The new Sexual Violence Review Board met for the first time on Friday, with a focus on protecting and supporting victims throughout the justice process.
The board’s nine members will identify and review systemic issues in relation to the reporting, investigation and prosecution of sexual offences to ensure victims are proactively supported and offenders are held to account.
Board members were chosen for their professional experience in supporting victims or dealing with sexual violence cases.
Board members include:
- Rebecca O’Connor (Chair) - Queensland’s Victims’ Commissioner with extensive experience working in health, child protection, domestic, family, and sexual violence services across Australia;
- Diane Macleod (Deputy Chair) – Founder and Director of the Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence, a director of the Red Rose Foundation, and sits on several advisory bodies including the Queensland Sexual Violence Prevention Roundtable;
- Nathan Crane – Deputy Director at Queensland’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions;
- Sarah Cruickshank - Director-General of the Queensland Department of Justice;
- Brian Connors APM – Assistant Police Commissioner leading the Crime and Intelligence Command;
- Catherine Crawford - CEO of the North Queensland Combined Women’s Services;
- Cressida Monypenny - Registered nurse;
- Debra Fletcher - Senior Housing and Neighbourhood Manager with Encircle Community Services;
- Dr Ian Home - Senior Forensic Physician in Clinical Excellence Queensland within Queensland Health.
Minister for Youth Justice and Victim Support Laura Gerber said: “The Sexual Violence Review Board will address the current gaps in the system and deliver recommendations to strengthen legislation and systems around sexual violence to better protect victims.
“We must put victims at the heart of justice, and that starts with giving them the support and respect they deserve throughout the justice process.”
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