The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre marks its 50th year and welcomes the ACT Government’s Budget announcement which enables ongoing delivery of specialist sexual violence services to the Canberra region.
The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC) has welcomed the ACT Government’s 2026–27 Budget investment of $44.2 million over four years to strengthen frontline domestic, family and sexual violence services, including $18.5 million for stable, ongoing funding for core response services such as CRCC. The investment will help ensure the ACT’s only specialist sexual violence service can continue delivering crisis response, trauma-informed counselling, advocacy, prevention education and support for victim-survivors navigating legal systems through the Independent Sexual Violence Advisor (ISVA) program.
CEO Tiffany Karlsson said the investment shows the government is backing victim-survivors and the specialist services that support them.
“Sexual violence remains one of the most widespread and underreported forms of violence in our community. We are deeply grateful to the ACT Government for this investment. Specialist sexual violence services change lives – making this funding an important investment in prevention, response and recovery.”
– Tiffany Karlsson, CEO, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
Sexual violence remains widespread
In the ACT, 2 in 5 women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. Nationally, 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15. More than 1 in 4 Australian children experience child sexual abuse.
Despite this, 92% of victim-survivors do not report to police. For many, specialist services like CRCC are the primary source of support and recovery.
Sources: Women’s Health Matters survey (2025); Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey (2021–22); Australian Child Maltreatment Study (2023).
The value of specialist services
Early specialist support improves victim-survivors’ recovery, reducing anxiety and depression, strengthening workforce participation and economic stability, and lowering downstream costs to health, justice and child protection systems.
“The need for sexual violence support services remains urgent.” Tiffany Karlsson said. “We are seeing more presentations involving problematic and harmful sexual behaviours, complex trauma, and increasing levels of violence.”
50 years and beyond
As CRCC marks 50 years of service, the organisation says continued investment in specialist sexual violence support is critical to ensuring victim-survivors in Canberra can access timely, trauma-informed care when they need it most.
“This year, CRCC marks 50 years of standing with survivors. This funding ensures we can continue to be there for every victim-survivor who seeks our support.”
– Tiffany Karlsson, CEO, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
Media Contact
Shara Ranasinghe
Communication Manager, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
cep@crcc.org.au