The federal government has announced more than $21 million in funding to strengthen support for victims and survivors of sexual violence.

It comes as a report by the Australian Law Reform Commission's (ALRC) inquiry into justice responses to sexual violence was tabled, which notes 92 per cent of women chose not to go to the police after they were sexually assaulted, and of those who did, up to 85 per cent of sexual violence reports made to police did not progress to a charge.

The report, titled Safe, Informed, Supported: Reforming Justice Responses to Sexual Violence, found systemic barriers to reporting sexual violence and engaging with the justice system.

Furthermore, when victims and survivors do engage in the justice system, it often causes further harm or re-traumatisation.

"...mainstream systems continue to create harm and make women reluctant to access supports and services available or contact police and courts when violence occurs," the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice submitted to the report.

"Thus, our current systems and institutes are compromising the safety of victims."

The government announced the piloting of "specialist, trauma-informed sexual assault legal services" across every jurisdiction as part of its $21.4 funding package.

"Far too many women experience sexual violence in their lifetime, and for many, their experience with the justice system can only add to that trauma," Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher, said.

"This report from the ALRC is an important step towards ending that cycle of trauma."

Whilst the report made 64 recommendations, a number of which specifically focused on violence perpetrated towards Indigenous women and the specialist help and support needed, the government said they were "carefully considering the report's recommendations".

They said they would work closely with jurisdictions, as well as experts and people with lived experience through the Expert Advisory Group to "consider a longer-term response".

Lawyer and founder of the Make Police Investigate Campaign, Karen Iles, said the recommendations in the ALRC report will have a "tangible, and positive impact, on the experiences of victim/survivors of rape and sexual violence when they report to police".

"Women report to police to attempt to hold their perpetrators accountable and prevent them from raping other women and girls. Victim/survivors must be supported to take this important step – providing them with independent lawyers and other supports is exactly what is needed," she said.

"These recommendations go towards achieving that."

Nationally, First Nations women are seven times more likely to be homicide victims than non-Indigenous women, and of those women, 75 per cent are killed by a current or former partner.

First Nations women are 33 times more likely to be hospitalised due to family and domestic violence than non-Indigenous women.

Last year, a Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children called for a review of policing practices, as well as a First Nations role at the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, and changes to the way the media reports on First Nations deaths.

Having previously called for policing culture to change while arguing "when our families report that an Aboriginal woman has died or is missing, police responses are often inadequate," chief executive of family violence prevention organisation Djirra, Antoinette Braybrook last year said "at least 24 per cent" of women supported by Djirra in 2023 had been misidentified by police as perpetrators.

The Yoorrook Justice Commission heard stories of Aboriginal women reporting domestic violence to the police, only to see themselves being arrested as the perpetrators.

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found 67 per cent of First Nations people aged 15 and over who experienced physical harm in the last 12 months reported the perpetrator was an intimate partner or family member.

Over 72 per cent of assault hospitalisations involving First Nations people were due to family violence.

"We are working to ensure victim-survivors have better experiences and get better outcomes from their engagement with the justice system – so people impacted by violence can achieve justice and people using violence and abuse are held to account," Minister for Social Services, Amanda Rishworth, said.

"We welcome the findings and recommendations of the ALRC and will carefully consider how they may help us achieve our goal of better protecting victim-survivors."

Whilst there was still "much work to do," Ms Iles said the recommendations are a "welcome step toward delivering justice and safety for victims".

"We urge the State and Federal Government to adopt these recommendations and take swift action to implement the necessary changes that will allow all victims of sexual violence to feel heard, supported, and protected," she said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family, or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.

13YARN Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters on 13 92 76, available 24/7 from any mobile or pay phone, or visit www.13yarn.org.au No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.