Worsening sexual violence rates in the Northern Territory have workers sounding the alarm. Stateline NT has gone inside a government-run support service for victims dealing with unprecedented demand.
00:00When Shaila Kennedy was 15, she was groomed by a man almost double her age.
00:08It wasn't a, we fell in love with each other. He made me fall in love with him.
00:14The man is serving time in jail for the abuse. It almost claimed Shaila's life.
00:20I had such a severe, severe time with my mental health.
00:29Maurice Blackburn lawyers have launched civil proceedings against the NT government on Ms Kennedy's behalf, alleging departments knew about concerns for her welfare while she was with the man, but failed to act sufficiently.
00:42The impact on Shaila has been long lasting.
00:46I'm consistently hypervigilant. I'm watching. I need to make sure I'm safe.
00:52The Northern Territory may have the smallest population in the nation, but it's the most dangerous when it comes to sexual violence.
00:58Rates here about 30% higher than the national average.
01:02A government run support service for victims is feeling the pressure, with referrals tripling over the past decade.
01:09These 911 stick figures represent victims the Sexual Assault Referral Centre helped in Darwin in 2024.
01:20About a third of them were children, with many exhibiting harmful sexualised behaviours.
01:27They really don't understand what they're involved in. Emotionally they don't understand this is sexual activity.
01:33Shame and stigma, the biggest barriers for victims.
01:37It should be talked about more. It shouldn't be a taboo topic because that's where shame can hide.
01:44Shaila is now an advocate for victim survivors and has this message for anyone feeling lost.
01:51Things are going to get better. There's lights at the end of tunnels. They don't go on forever.
