Managing Sexual Assault Hearings, May 2024

Sexual assault trials present some of the most complex and controversial challenges for the criminal justice system.  Judicial officers are accountable for upholding the rule of law and maintaining public confidence in the courts in their management of these challenges.  It is important to support their capacity to do so by providing appropriate education in periods of legislative and social change.

The program ‘Managing Sexual Assault Hearings’, is informed by extensive research, international best practice and the participation and stewardship of experienced judicial officers.

The modular design of the program means it can be adapted and delivered to all Australian courts and jurisdictions and will address the challenges of both summary and indictable proceedings.

Social and personal psychological context in judicial education and training is an important part of the judicial officers remit. This program will enhance your capability to engage with perpetrators, complainants, victims and survivors of sexual assault, families and communities more effectively with a view to improving entrenched trial practices and out of step narratives.

Program modules will include addressing misconceptions concerning sexual offending, conducting pre-recorded hearings, dealing with expert evidence, framing directions, the delivery of evidence and trauma-informed court craft.

By the end of the program, participants will:

• Demonstrate an increased awareness of misconceptions concerning sexual offending and current empirical evidence relating to those misconceptions
• Have the knowledge to be able to frame a jurisdictionally appropriate direction to address such misconceptions, and knowing when a direction should be given
• Understand that the pre-trial recording is part of the trial
• Understand the role and functions of witness intermediaries – skills in getting the best evidence
• Have the knowledge and skill to deal with common issues that arise in pretrial hearings
• Identify when and how to intervene in irrelevant and inappropriate questioning of a witness
• Understand the ways in which memory is affected by trauma
• Have knowledge and skills to minimise trauma to all participants in the criminal justice system

The rationale for the program is to enhance the competence and capability of judicial officers to conduct fair hearings involving allegations of sexual offending and to improve trial practice in courts throughout Australia. 

This is a free Program. Catering, resources and access to materials included.

Not included: cost of travel and accommodation.

Meet your Program Planning Committee