MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • marie hair
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
MarieClaire
  • News
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Lifestyle
  • Career
  • Bridal
  • marie hair
  • Gifts
  • The Edit
  • Discount Codes
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. News

Stacey Maloney On the Importance Of Having Sexual Assault Survivors Feel Heard

The detective superintendent and head of NSW Police Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is fighting to have women seen and heard by the justice system - by Kathryn Madden
  • 01 Jul 2021
Stacey Maloney On the Importance Of Having Sexual Assault Survivors Feel Heard

When Detective Superintendent Stacey Maloney stepped into her new role heading up the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad for the NSW Police in February, she never could have anticipated what would happen next. In her first three weeks on the job, both Brittany Higgins and Chanel Contos spoke publicly on matters of sexual assault, sparking Australia’s second #MeToo wave. “It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” reflects Maloney. “But it’s been a fantastic opportunity to promote conversations about consent and sexual misconduct – like we’ve never been able to before.”

For Maloney, that meant calling for changes to her state’s sexual consent laws. “Previously in NSW, consent didn’t need to be positively or actively communicated,” she explains. “I wanted to see a ‘reasonable steps’ model, which means the person who is initiating sexual activity has to be able to demonstrate the steps [they undertook] to gain consent.”

In late May, the NSW government responded, announcing a sweeping overhaul of consent legislation. The new affirmative model is based on the premise of “yes means yes” rather than “no means no” and, as per Maloney’s recommendation, accused rapists will be able to prove sex was consensual only if they took active steps to obtain consent.

Maloney also joined forces with Contos to address NSW’s consistently low levels of sexual assault reporting. “I found the schoolgirls’ stories in Chanel’s petition really heartbreaking,” she says. “I’d done a bit of media about my views on consent, and Dr Joy Townsend reached out to me – she’s a doctor of sociology and a proponent of consent education – and she suggested I link up with Chanel. We talked through the issues and got on really well, and that’s how Operation Vest came about.”

The initiative makes use of the NSW Police’s pre-existing but under-utilised online reporting tool, Sexual Assault Reporting Option (SARO), which allows individuals to report incidents of assault without launching a criminal investigation. It’s informal and can be anonymous, but may provide victims with closure, and also gives police important information about potential offenders in the community.

Notably, informal reporting of sexual assault in NSW has risen by 43 per cent since Operation Vest launched in mid-March. Sexual assault reporting more generally has been up by 54 per cent across the state since February. Maloney is heartened by the statistics, but wants to be careful that all new initiatives centre on the victim-survivor and offer therapeutic support. She’d also like to start a conversation about restorative justice, a model that sees victim and offender brought together to discuss what happened to find a resolution and way of healing.

Next up, Maloney is turning her attention to dating apps – according to 2019 police research, 20 per cent of sexual assaults around Sydney nightspots occurred after meetings organised online or through a dating app. Maloney can’t divulge details at this point, though police have proposed they gain direct access to a portal of sexual assaults reported on Tinder.

As Maloney keeps on with her work, a role she admits requires “resilience”, she has a message for those considering coming forward: “We are here for you. We’re here to listen to your stories – it can be therapeutic to come forward and share. We’ll be supportive of whatever a victim wants in the process.

“I’m so incredibly proud of the articulate young women who are speaking up and saying enough is enough,” she continues. “It’s important to note I’m seeing some great young men in the community who are speaking out about this too. I’m looking forward to seeing what this generation brings – I’ll be there front and centre with them, helping in whatever way I can.”

Kathryn Madden
Kathryn Madden
Kathryn Madden is the Deputy Features Director of marie claire magazine, and spends her days writing about feminism, fashion and everything in between. She’s also written for Grazia, InStyle, Qantas and Home Beautiful, and is the editor and founder of Lonely Continent.

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Subscribe to marie claire

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to Marie Claire

Recommended to you

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows
Watch 4:43

MAFS' Aleks and Ivan exchange wedding vows

{headline}

{headline}

App-ily Never After: I Tried Looking For Love Offline

App-ily Never After: I Tried Looking For Love Offline

‘The Only Way We Heal Is When We Speak’: Suzi Dent On Testifying Against Rolf Harris

‘The Only Way We Heal Is When We Speak’: Suzi Dent On Testifying Against Rolf Harris

Alison Brahe-Daddo Was Sexually Assaulted 35 Years Ago—Now, She's Ready To Talk About It

Alison Brahe-Daddo Was Sexually Assaulted 35 Years Ago—Now, She's Ready To Talk About It

One In Six University Students Have Been Sexually Harassed—Australia Failed Them

One In Six University Students Have Been Sexually Harassed—Australia Failed Them

{headline}

{headline}

The Top 10 Best Dating Apps For Finding Love In The Digital Age

The Top 10 Best Dating Apps For Finding Love In The Digital Age

6 Online Dating Alternatives To Tinder For Every Personality

6 Online Dating Alternatives To Tinder For Every Personality

What Happened To The 'Tinder Swindler' And His Victims After His Arrest?

What Happened To The 'Tinder Swindler' And His Victims After His Arrest?

{headline}

{headline}

When It Comes To #MeToo, Our Next Battle Should Be With The Grey Spaces

When It Comes To #MeToo, Our Next Battle Should Be With The Grey Spaces

Why Sarah Hanson-Young Believes Our National Consent Laws Fail Us

Why Sarah Hanson-Young Believes Our National Consent Laws Fail Us

She Started A Reckoning, But Chanel Contos Isn't Finished Yet

She Started A Reckoning, But Chanel Contos Isn't Finished Yet

We Asked Creatives To Come Up With Consent Campaigns That Might Actually Be Effective

We Asked Creatives To Come Up With Consent Campaigns That Might Actually Be Effective

Grace Tame Opens Up About Survival, Speaking Out & Starting A Revolution

Grace Tame Opens Up About Survival, Speaking Out & Starting A Revolution

Australian Of the Year Grace Tame Helms marie claire’s May Cover

Australian Of the Year Grace Tame Helms marie claire’s May Cover

Did the Sisterhood Die With Julia Gillard's Prime Ministership?

Did the Sisterhood Die With Julia Gillard's Prime Ministership?

MarieClaire
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
MarieClaire Magazine Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Discount Codes
  • Contact Us
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • Beauty Crew
  • Home Beautiful
  • Elle
  • Who

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • beautyheaven
  • New Idea food
  • New Idea
  • Girlfriend
  • That’s Life
  • Practical Parenting
  • All Recipes
  • Perth Now
  • The West Australian
  • 7Plus
  • 7mate
  • 7NEWS
  • 7Sport
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from Marie Claire

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to Marie Claire-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to Marie Claire