433 Sarah Rosenberg - The Fight for Basic Dignity in the Justice System

The justice system was not built to protect victim-survivors of sexual violence, and Sarah Rosenberg is forcing the country to confront that fact. Sarah is the founder of With You We Can, an online-first resource and advocacy platform supporting victim-survivors of sexual violence. What began as her own search for answers, while living with an autoimmune disease and later surviving sexual and domestic violence, grew into a national guide and a campaign for legislative reform. In this episode, Sarah unpacks why Australia still treats victims as witnesses rather than parties to a crime, why cross-examination can be so dehumanising, and why her fight for victims' access to free legal representation is about dignity, not just process. She talks through what a three-year criminal trial taught her about the system, what "postcode justice" looks like in the current pilot programs, and why progress on the Australian Law Reform Commission's 64 recommendations has been so slow. This episode discusses sexual violence and domestic violence, including the criminal trial process. We have approached it with sensitivity and care, and we would ask that you do the same. Listen when you feel ready. Support is available. 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 · Lifeline 13 11 14.