This page has been printed from the Yarrow Place website http://www.yarrowplace.sa.gov.au

Yarrow Place works towards a long-term vision, which is described in our Strategic Plan as:

South Australia will have a coordinated and comprehensive response to rape and sexual assault and will work towards a rape free society.

Mission Statement

The Strategic Plan also describes how we work towards that vision and the goals that we are working towards. (Goals are more specific than the vision.)

Yarrow Place works with a range of services and the community to prevent, and minimise the effects of, rape and sexual assault in South Australia.

The outcomes we seek to achieve are :

• a significant reduction in the incidence of rape and sexual assault
• a significant reduction in the impacts of rape and sexual assault
• improved access to, and quality of, services and support for victims of rape and sexual assault
• a reduction in the negative impacts that systems (eg the health system, the legal system) may have on people who have been raped or sexually assaulted
• increased community awareness of the issue and increased community support for people who have been raped or sexually assaulted
• a reduction in violence and a more equitable society.

Key Understandings

These goals, and the ways in which we work, are based on the following beliefs:

• Rape and sexual assault are crimes and violate basic human rights
• Rape and sexual assault cross a continuum of violent behaviours including sexual harassment, unwanted touching, coerced sexual activity, and rape with physical violence and/or threat to life
• Rape and sexual assault are predominantly perpetrated by men against women, men and children
• Rape and sexual assault are both consequences of, and reinforces of, the power disparities in society, particularly those between men and women, and between adults and children
• There are never any excuses for sexual violence
• Rape and sexual assault have social, emotional, health, legal, economic and political consequences for the individual and the society
• Recovery following sexual assault is possible
• People who have been raped or sexually assaulted have the right to quality care
• The violation of rights that victims have experienced demands a response that affirms their rights, dignity, humanity, and self-determination
• To achieve the best outcomes for victims, and to reduce the incidence of rape and sexual assault, it is necessary to work across the health and human services systems, the criminal justice system, the education system (which can contribute to prevention) and other relevant areas.