Demystifying the justice system for victims of sexual violence

This weeks change maker is Sarah Rosenberg, Director and Co-Founder of With You We Can, a national online resource demystifying the police and legal systems for victims of sexual violence while working to improve them. She pulls together advocates, experts and services to encourage collaboration and amplify the work of others. Aside from using her living experience in this way, she is Impact & Evaluation Officer at 10×10 Philanthropy.

Read on for our fascinating interview with Sarah!

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

Third child, over-achiever, person with a disability… of all the things I’ve been, I never thought I’d be a victim of domestic violence. I come from a family of givers, so when I experienced sexual violence, my response was never going to be just about me. I entered the criminal justice system pen and paper in hand, determined to expose the hell of it all in the name of the next victim. I’ve learnt now that this is what victims do. They do it to protect others, because we’re not the only ones who pay the price if a perpetrator runs free. And they do it to the shrill sound of people claiming they’ve lied.

After 3 police stations, 5 detectives and 24 hours over 3 months reporting my perpetrator, I was stuck in the queue awaiting the state’s trial. Mirroring my Mum and her work in international development, I mapped out the sector, created a network and developed a resource. By the time the trial began, With You We Can was Australia’s first national victim-led resource demystifying the police and legal processes for victims of sexual violence. The trial almost didn’t matter anymore, because I’d done what I set out to do. By then knew how rare it was that my perpetrator even saw the inside of a courtroom.

Uniquely informed by both lived and sector expertise, With You We Can pulls together advocates, academics and services to demystify the justice system and inform victims of their options to hold perpetrators accountable. It aims to create understanding around our justice system, not just for the complainants going through it blindly, but for the general public who might otherwise not engage. If we do this, we are better placed to reform it.

I’m fortunate to have the guidance of a powerhouse expert advisory committee, who threw their support behind me and the resource. Although, this was bittersweet, because I still can’t believe something like it didn’t exist. Reporting a perpetrator is a public service, and knowing what is expected of you as a witness in the state’s prosecution is the bare minimum.

What does this role mean to you?

The pain of my trauma hasn’t gotten any smaller, but I’ve grown. Founding With You We Can and expanding its network to where it is now has been a manifestation of my grief. If I, a white, straight, cis-gendered, English speaking, nearly able-bodied girl from the eastern suburbs of Sydney with an incredible support system could suffer the way I did at the hands of the criminal justice system, the majority of victims in this country are seriously struggling. The goal is to help make sure no victim’s agency is taken away, just like it was taken when they were assaulted, right at the time they have chosen to reclaim it. And, it’s important to me that we don’t just seek alternative paths to justice, as valuable as they are, because then it’s just another way the patriarchy is preventing women from accessing formal recognition in our public systems.

Take us through a typical day of work for you.

For someone who’s lacking in coordination as a result of a chronic autoimmune disease, I’m very good at juggling. Most days start with a10x10 Philanthropy team meeting. We support early stage grassroots charities to traverse the growth cycle, which is great because spare resources get flicked my way! We work out of a wonderful hub of offices, and I like to sit out in our sunny café when I work on With You We Can. It keeps me grounded while working on such difficult topics, and it’s nice to be around other people so I feel less alone. I’ll duck home to walk the dogs when I can, and finish the day off with some kind of chaotic extra volunteering and I always end up over committing for tomorrow. Later in the evening it’s back to 10×10 work to support our volunteer project committees across the world in identifying innovative charities tackling inequality. The common thread is pretty clear – I’m passionate about social justice and can never pick just one thing to do!

What is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered in your career, and how did you overcome it?

In the not for profit sector, and particularly in the under-funded, under-resourced and over-burdened sexual violence sector, it can be hard for services to see the value in collaboration – it’s not like other spheres, where working together gets everyone more money, where collaboration is good for business. When frontline practitioners spend each year begging for funding to survive the next, joining forces is low on the priority list. Every day I work towards collaboration. I strive for connectivity, I aim to amplify the work of others, particularly those whose voices aren’t the loudest. I actively avoid duplication. But it’s difficult. My Mum always tells me, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career? 

I hate to say it but… I’d tell myself to go on The Bachelor or something and get a platform! I think it’d be easier to influence people if you had a following. Oh, and don’t ignore the old adage to not go into business with your friends!

How do you unwind after work?

I’m getting better at being proactive about self care. I usually jump in a bath full of Epsom salts. I order 10kg bags at a time.

What was the last thing you watched, read or listened to?

My favourite genre of television is trash… closely followed by a limited mini series. So, I just finished Love Island UK and I adored watching Deadloch.