It’s hard to think about, but frail older women in nursing homes get sexually abused too

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The Conversation, November 22, 2018 6.02am AEDT

We don’t often think of older women being victims of sexual assault, but such assaults occur in many settings and circumstances, including in nursing homes. Our research, published this week in the journal Legal Medicine, analysed 28 forensic medical examinations of female nursing home residents who had allegedly been victims of sexual assault in Victoria over a 15-year period.

The majority of the alleged victims had some form of cognitive or physical impairment. All 14 perpetrators who were reported were male, half of whom were staff and half other residents.

 

 

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16 days of activism events: Charles Sturt is Saying No to Domestic and Family Violence

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City of Charles Sturt, November 2018

Charles Sturt is partnering with local community groups, sports clubs, schools, businesses and key stakeholders to raise awareness and implement violence prevention activities. Several activities are planned for the 16 days of activism from the 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).  The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign is a time to stimulate action to end violence around the world.

Act of love

Twelve artists have been paired up with members in our community affected by domestic and family violence to paint their portrait. The portraits are a thoughtful portrayal of a larger story capturing exhibition. The Act of Love is the interchange between the artist and the sitter, with the finished portrait being gifted to the sitter at the end of the exhibition.

Clothesline Project

Community members are encouraged to share their unique and empowering responses to Domestic and family violence and decorate a t-shirt. All the t-shirts will be strung up on clotheslines and displayed at various locations across the city to raise awareness. Various locations will be available to paint the t-shirts.

Message to my Love campaign

During the sixteen days of activism at the Civic Library, the Digital Story Box will become a personal story capturing device. Our community will be invited to pick up the phone, listen to a story and then record a personal message of love and respect for a loved one in their life. This could be a daughter, son, partner, parent, best friend or anyone that you love. Leaders in our community will initially be interviewed  and these stories will then be able to be viewed and heard as part of the campaign.

Associated events and exhibitions will also be scheduled during this time as a way to share messages and stories which aim to raise confidence and awareness in our community.

As part of the Message to my Love project, we will be sending post cards with rates notices for community to write their messages. There will be a survey monkey link on the post card for people to fill in online or their will be selected locations to drop in the postcard where they will be displayed as part of the #messagetomylove campaign.

We will be out and about filming community messages at different public spaces. Keep an eye out on our website, social media for further information.

This is an exciting time for our council.  We are committed to creating safe families and communities for everyone and we welcome your involvement in these activities. If you would like more information about these activities and programs please contact Khadija at: kgbla@charlesturt.sa.gov.au

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or feel unsafe in an intimate or family relationship, 24 hour assistance is available on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), which is the National Sexual Assault Domestic & Family Violence Counselling Service. Or you can go to www.1800respect.org.au

 

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Early Notice Of SHINE SA Clinic Closures At Davoren Park And Noarlunga

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SHINE SA, November 15, 2018

Please find below a letter from Natasha Miliotis, Chief Executive Officer of SHINE SA, regarding the impending closures of SHINE SA’s clinics atDavoren Park and Noarlunga. These closures are planned to occur in February 2019.

 

 

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“I never realised they were so different”: understanding the impact of the labia library

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Women’s Health Victoria, October 2018

Recognising that women are increasingly altering their genitalia through cosmetic surgery, WHV developed the Labia Library, a unique online resource that supports positive body image by informing women about the natural diversity in normal female genital appearance.

The Labia Library houses a gallery of 40 unaltered photographs of female genitalia.
This provides viewers with the opportunity to learn about the diversity of normal female
genitalia and make visual comparisons, in a safe and private way. The site also contains information about anatomy, female genital cosmetic surgery, hair removal, media literacy and pornography.

In order to gain an understanding of the effectiveness of the resource in improving
women’s health literacy, a survey with a free text option was promoted on the Labia
Library home page from September 2013 to July 2015

Overall, the vast majority of survey respondents indicated a positive perception
of the resource, often experiencing a significant reduction in anxiety and
reassurance of normality associated with genital appearance.

 

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Surveillance of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses in South Australia, 2017

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Communicable Disease Control Branch, SA Health, 2018

In 2017, there were 8,181 new notifications of STIs and BBVs in South Australia. This figure represents a 7% increase in the number of new notifications compared to notifications received in 2016, and a 14% increase compared to the five year average (2012-2016).

In 2017, there were 5,910 notifications of genital chlamydia making this the most commonly notified STI in South Australia.  The notification rate of chlamydia in 2017 was 343 per 100,000 population, and has been stable over the past five years.

There were no notifications of donovanosis in 2017.

There were 1,271 notifications of gonorrhoea in 2017. The notification rate of gonorrhoea increased from 45 per 100,000 population in 2014 to 74 per 100,000 population in 2017.

There were 158 notifications of infectious syphilis in 2017, the highest number of annual notifications in the past 10 years.

There were 60 new diagnoses of HIV infection in 2017. The notification rate of newly diagnosed HIV infection in 2017 was 3.5 per 100,000 population, above that in 2016 of 3.1 per 100,000 population. The notification rate in the Aboriginal population rose to 9.6 per 100,000 in 2017, up from 4.8 per 100,000 in 2016.

There were 11 notifications of newly acquired hepatitis B infection in 2017, above the five year average (2012-2016) of nine cases per year. There were 272 notifications of unspecified hepatitis B virus infection reported in 2017. The notification rate has declined in the Aboriginal population over the past five years.

There were 32 notifications of newly acquired hepatitis C in 2017. The majority of cases were males (75%). The notification rate of unspecified hepatitis C infection was 23 per 100,000 population in 2017.

There were 10 new diagnoses of hepatitis D infection in 2017, which is consistent with the five year average of 10 notifications per year.

 

 

 

 

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