Consent
Key Principle: Secure full informed consent from the outset
Victims and survivors need to know how their story will be told, right from the start: the who, what, when, where, why and how.
At the very start of the process ensure the interviewee understands the principle of informed consent and check in with them regularly.
Consider how the understanding of informed consent may be different for victims and survivors given the profound trauma they experienced in their early development.
The guiding principle of informed consent is that the interviewee is fully aware of the consequences of telling their story to the media including:
- At some point the victim and survivor will lose control of the story.
- Other outlets will use the story and may not treat it with the same respect.
- The online environment means their story will be on the internet forever. It is very unlikely your media outlet will agree to taking the story down.
- The nature of social media means there may be instances of trolling and hurtful comments and the possibility of the story going viral.
- Unauthorised images may also be downloaded from social media pages.
While it may feel counterintuitive to give a victim and survivor all the facts about the journalistic process so they can make an informed choice, it is empowering. It gives the person a chance to regain the sense of control they may have lost through their abuse.
- Talk with the victim and survivor upfront about whether they have professional or personal support or networks around them.
- Seek further informed consent if the nature of the story changes.
- Respect the right of victims and survivors to withdraw consent at any time.
"Story-telling is not just healing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander survivors, it’s a sacred cultural practice in our communities. Our lived experiences matter and we deserve to be seen and heard. However, before we invite any victims and survivors to share their lived experiences, we must make sure they feel safe and the space is actually safe. We make spaces safe by ensuring victims and survivors are given as much information upfront as possible, are offered anonymity and prior informed consent is given freely.
Victims and survivors should be given the opportunity to review questions in advance and should never be asked “why did you....” but rather “what happened to you?” Victims and survivors should be offered assistance with understanding defamation laws, so they know if or how they can refer to their perpetrator, and the possible impact on legal proceedings. Victims and survivors should receive a copy of a media package to review before it is published. Victims and survivors need to know they get to control how their story is shared and we want to empower them with the information, tools and confidence to do that."
(Amanda Morgan, Advocate for survivors of child sexual abuse)
"Piece by piece we must correct the narrative and take control away from child sex offenders who for so long have sought solace in our systems and institutions that shield them from the full extent of what they’ve done. The experience of child sexual abuse needs to be reframed once and for all from the perspective of boys and girls whose lives were taken away from them before they even had a chance to live them on their terms."
(Grace Tame, CEO The Grace Tame Foundation)