Welcome to the National Survey of LGBTIQA+ Experiences of Sexual Violence

Scientia Associate Professor Michael Salter (he/him) is the Chief Investigator for this project. He is an internationally recognised expert in the study of sexual violence and complex trauma. His published work includes two books and over fifty papers in international journals and edited collections. His research addresses the policy implications of sexual violence across multiple areas of policy, including mental health, primary prevention, law enforcement and internet regulation. Dr Salter is the President of the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation (ISSTD) where he has served on the Board of Directors since 2018 and is currently the Chair of the Grace Tame Foundation. Dr Salter is a member of national and international advisory groups, including: the Research Working Group of the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation, the Expert Advisory Group of the eSafety Commissioner, the Advisory Group of White Ribbon Australia, and the Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Advisory Group of Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. He is the academic member appointed by the Australian government to the National Plan Advisory Group to inform the development and implementation of the National Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women and Their Children.

Professor Jan Breckenridge (she/her) is the Head of the School of Social Sciences and the co-convenor of the Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN) at UNSW.  Her knowledge and reputation in this field is well established and has been developed through extensive original research in specific areas of gendered violence including both sexual violence and domestic and family violence.  In 2021, she was appointed to the National Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Working Group of the National Women’s Safety Alliance. In 2022, she was appointed to the Research Advisory Committee of the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse. In 2023 she was appointed to National Women’s Safety Alliance –Sexual Violence Working Group. She has always oriented her research towards maximum impact in innovative social policy development, best practice service provision and outcome measurement of effectiveness. Jan has consistently demonstrated a proven capacity to undertake research that involves analysis of large national data sets, state and territory-based data, the implementation of surveys and outcome measures as well as evidence reviews. Jan is experienced in working collaboratively with government and non-government organisations including those supporting LGBTQIA+ communities. She provided academic leadership on a DSS funded project which developed an evaluation toolkit for sexual violence prevention projects for LGBTQIA+ communities and a project exploring the experiences of workplace sexual harassment among LGBTIQ+ employees in the NSW public sector.

Dr Vanessa Lee-Ah Mat (she/her) [BTD, MPH, PhD] is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander by genealogy.  Dr Lee-Ah Mat has over 25 years’ experience leading cross-sectorial partnerships in public health and social policy development as a social epidemiologist connecting social determinants research with Indigenous cultural ways of knowing, doing and being – with the belief that culture is always first. In 2023, Vanessa resigned from the health sector to peruse her own consultancy business. Dr Lee-Ah Mat was awarded Griffith University, 2021 Outstanding First Peoples Alumnus Award from Griffith Health.

As an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consultant and LGBT+ leader Dr Lee-Ah Mat was included as a chief investigator with a research team on Gendered Violence, from UNSW, that have been successfully in securing funds to investigate sexual violence among the LGBT+ community across Australia.  In 2020, together with a professor from RMIT, Dr Lee-Ah Mat was successful in securing funds from Suicide Prevention Australia to investigate how support could be improved for LGBT+ people. It was during this same year that Vanessa became the first Indigenous Australian to hold the position of ILGA Oceania co-convener and using this role she presented to the UN Gendered Communities identifying the lack of linkages and articles in UNDRIP allowing for the separation of Indigenous LGBT+ data in world data sets.  Resulting in ILGA World being funded to collect much needed global Indigenous LGBT+ data. From this same position with ILGA Oceania Dr. Lee-Ah Mat successfully led an on-line conference inviting countries of the Pacific to identify the criminalisation of homosexuality which resulted in funding being allocated to support decriminalisation of homosexuality across these countries. In this position she was also able to get the ILGA Oceania board members paid for their time. In about 2013, Vanessa represented the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBT+ on the NSW LGBTIQ Domestic and Family Violence Interagency. In 2009, Vanessa became an active member of Anwernekenke, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV/AIDS Alliance, to stand in solidarity with Indigenous LGBT + sistergirls and brotherboys for HIV health promotion.

Vanessa is the chair of the RUOK? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advisory committee. In 2022, the NSW Department of health acknowledged Vanessa for her contribution to NSW Indigenous suicide prevention. Lee-Ah Mat published her book, Cockatoos in the Mangroves, during COVID.  Vanessa continues as CEO (and Founder) of her consultancy business Black Lorikeet Cultural Brokering Consultancy, and co-founder of Walking Between Worlds [enabling Indigenous digital artists to grow their works in the blockchain].

Dr Andy Kaladelfos (they/them) is Senior Lecturer in Criminology in School of Law, Society and Criminology and co-convenor of Gender Violence Research Network (GVRN) at UNSW. Andy is the first trans person appointed as UNSW Equity, Diversity and Inclusion champion role, the 'Gender Equity' co-champion. Andy's research specialities are sexual and gender-based violence, queer criminology, and homophobic and transphobic violence. Originally trained in history, Andy's research is interdisciplinary, using methods and approaches from historical studies, legal studies, criminology, psychology, feminist studies and digital humanities to analyse how experiences of and responses to violence change over time, to examine the nature of the criminal justice system, and the shifting relationship between law and society. Andy's research combines quantitative and qualitative methods to explain longitudinal trends in changing legal, political, and social contexts. Andy is a proud transmasculine, non-binary and queer person, with twenty years of advocacy experience including UNSW’s LGBTIQ Working Group, the Ally Network, the Australian Hate Crime Network, and numerous LGBTIQ community organisations.

Mailin Suchting (she/her) is the Manager of the Gendered Violence Research Network (GVRN), UNSW Sydney. Mailin has a Bachelor of Social Work (Hons) UNSW, Master of Arts (Communication and Cultural Studies) WSU and Certificate IV Training and Assessment. Mailin manages both the research and knowledge translation streams on behalf of the GVRN. She has over three decades experience in management, research, education and frontline roles shaping policy and responses to sexual assault and DFV for individuals, families and communities. Her specific interests include health impacts of gendered violence, professional intersections, prevention, response, intersectionality and diversity.

Mailin has managed the production of extensive, in-depth reports on policy issues relevant to sexual violence and DFV, as well as the development of frameworks and standards to support best practice approaches to prevention and response. Mailin also has considerable experience working in partnership with people from LGBTIQA+ communities. Her experience includes leading a DSS funded project which included the development of an evaluation toolkit to guide implementation of sexual violence prevention projects for LGBTIQA+ communities. She also recently led a research project exploring the experiences of workplace sexual harassment among LGBTIQ+ employees in the NSW public sector.

Steven Satour (he/him) is a Yankunytjatjara and Pitjantjatjara from Central Australia. Steven is a driven Indigenous entrepreneur and founder of Iwara Travel Australia. Steven brings over 10 years’ experience in marketing, event and project management across various sectors including: education, NFP, tourism, employment and small business.

He has an accomplished track record in working with Indigenous artists and groups to achieve results that positively impact First Australians social and economic welfare. Steven believes that by celebrating and embracing Indigenous cultures we bring all Australians together.

Angela Griffin (she/her) is a Research Assistant at the GVRN and has a background completing research and consultation with university students. In 2021 she completed her Bachelor of Social Research & Policy (Honours First Class). As part of this degree, she completed a thesis exploring student activist experiences of their universities implementation of the recommendations included in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s 2017 ‘Change the Course’ report.

Vincent Breckenridge (he/him) is a student and Research Assistant currently studying a Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts. Vincent has experience in qualitative and quantitative research and has worked with vulnerable communities including LGBTQIA+ and student communities.

Justin Sayarath (they/them) worked as a graphic designer on this project. Born in Sydney, Australia to Vietnamese/Laotian refugee parents, feverishly sketching as a young child, Justin’s interest in the visual arts was realised after winning my first art competition at the age of five. That inspiration took Justin to art school where he received a Master of Creative Arts in Visual Arts, Design & New Media. 

With over 15 years of experience in the creative industry, Justin’s experience covers a wide breadth of design principles and methods such as illustration, branding, packaging, layout and typography. 

As well as a practicing visual artist, Justin is also recognisable within the Australian public art scene, with numerous permanent installations in and around metropolitan Sydney. 

Justin brings strong contemporary flare with a passion for finding creative solutions that are intuitive, innovative and insightful. Justin now works as a Head of Studio in Advertising and resides in Sydney, Australia where they draw and paint in their home studio.

Lisa Anne Caruana - First Nations Artist | Gilinggilingba (Flying Fox)

A proud cultural woman belonging to the Great Larrakia Nation of Northern Territory with the language group – Gulumerrgin. Carrying the cultural name Gilinggilingba (Flying Fox), Lisa’s totems are Dangalaba (Crocodile) and Dumidungala (Dugong).

Passionate and dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich First Nations culture, she cherishes an celebrates her heritage, contributing to keeping this beautiful culture alive and thriving. With 25+ years residing and working on Turrbal Country, Lisa has deep roots and connections within her local community. Her vast artistic repertoire includes but not limited to painting, digital art, corporate design, surface pattern design and hand crafted jewellery and artefacts. Through her art, she bridges the gap between communities, drawing from the past and weaving it into the present. Lisa’s art aims not merely to capticate but also educate on the depth and diversity of First Nations culture. Discover more about Lisa and her endeavours to keep First Nations heritage thriving.