Yes and the two go together……legislative reform—-while critical—-depends on concerted educational undertakings addressing issues such as culture change, child safety, and more appropriate-sensitive responses in the face of trauma. The (unfortunate) all but instinctual response to reports of sexual assault is to dismiss the accusation and thereby to denigrate the survivor. THAT is an issue that demands our fullest attention, whether amongst law enforcement, hospital staffs, or counselling services. Therefore, there is a need for a two-front approach of legislation and education; devoid of a unified effort of the two, neither can be successful. The underlying premises of accountability and transparency demand such an approach.

In many ways, this is THE core question; time after time survivors share with me the walls (plural) of institutional complicity which they are forced to confront. The realization that the institution they loved/were devoted to—and assumed that was mutual—prioritizes itself over them is devastating. This

Is true whether the institution is the Catholic Church, a university, a school, or a sports team. To change the culture of institutional complicity and an enabling culture requires holding institutional actors accountable hence the need to criminalize enablers and bystanders; absent that, there will be no change.

If the reference is to this, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/concealment then am not sure I see the connection BUT only too happy to have discussions on this if pushes the ball forward.

In the US (I don’t know about Australia), there are laws protecting whistle-blowers BUT that is insufficient as there is a need to educate the public regarding BOTH the importance and vulnerability of whistle blowers.

As an example, in the past few days I have interacted with two fathers (in USA) whose children were victims (one murdered, the other heavily drugged); their voices are particularly powerful and important in protecting whistle-blowers.

Am firm believer in bottom-up approach focusing on particular legislators in conjunction with active media campaign.