Preventing sexual assualt: Tools
Creating safe environments
Physical and sexual assault: Prevention checklist for residential environments [Word]
This checklist identifies a number of essential elements to an effective abuse prevention strategy.
Role of good HR practice in preventing abuse of older people [PDF]
Benevolent Society (2006)
This paper discusses four key elements in reducing the risk of abuse in the workplace:
- recruitment and selection
- induction
- ongoing education and communication
- creating the culture.
Polices and procedures
Elder protection: Policies and procedures and resource guide [PDF]
Aged & Community Services Australia (2007)
This guide contains:
- elder protection policies and procedures
- related policy development considerations – human resources
- a list of resources and reference documents
- model policies, checklists and sample letters.
Policies: Protection of human rights and freedom from abuse
The Spastic Centre
These policies form The Spastic Centre's response to Standard 10 of the NSW Disability Services Standards.
Recruitment: Good practice – fact sheet on best-practice recruitment strategies [PDF]
Council of Social Service of New South Wales (2007)
It is good practice to ensure that potential employees undergo a criminal record check before starting employment. It is best practice to adopt other screening checks rather than solely relying on criminal record checks – convictions for sexual assault offences offences are rare (see Sexual assault).
Education and training
Education for people with disability
It is accepted that people with disability have sexual rights (see Sexuality) and are entitled to information about their bodies and feelings, and about how to protect themselves from sexual exploitation. Contact Family Planning NSW for education programs in this area.
Training for staff
Given the vulnerability of people with disability and older people in residential settings (see Sexual assault), there should be mandatory training on three aspects of sexual assault:
- how to recognise sexual assault
- how to report sexual assault
- how to help someone who has been sexually assaulted.
Training for staff of residential disability services – The SADA Project is currently piloting a two-day training program, Sexuality and responding to sexual assault for staff of residential disability services. From July 2008 People with Disability Australia (PWD) and Family Planning NSW plan to offer this program to residential disability service providers. Contact PWD for further information.
Training for staff of residential aged-care services – Elder abuse: protecting residents. There are a number of programs available from the The Aged Care Channel please contact The Aged Care Channel - telephone (02) 9450 2992.
For other organisations offering training see Preventing sexual assault: Contact agencies.
Return to top