For sex to be consensual, all people involved must freely agree to participate in all behaviours or acts. This means people cannot give consent when they are feeling forced, coerced or intimidated, or so affected by drugs or alcohol that they can not freely agree.
Victoria introduced new affirmative consent laws in 2023.
“Affirmative sexual consent places the responsibility on each individual person participating in a sexual act to take steps to say or do something to check that the other person(s) involved are consenting to a sexual activity.”
There are many reasons why someone is not able to say ‘no’ to someone. These include coercion or intimidation, as well as unequal power.
A person does not give consent because they:
More details about the new consent laws can be found on the website of our peak body Sexual Assault Services Victoria.
CASA House acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. We recognise their continuing connection to, and care for, land and waters. We acknowledge this land was stolen, and that sovereignty was never ceded. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present.