Pleasure-centred sexual safety for neurodivergent women, trans and gender-diverse people in Victoria

Sophie Hindes, Lena Molnar, Brigid Evans, Melissa Jolley, Jac Den Houting, Jax Brown, Natalie Amos, Sarah Vrankovich, Jessica Ison, Adam Bourne, Lily Moor

Research shows that these groups experience disproportionately high rates of sexual victimisation, yet most studies emphasise risk and vulnerability rather than recognising their agency in navigating sex, relationships, and consent across online and offline contexts.

The project aims to strengthen partnerships between people with lived experience, the disability community sector, and researchers in disability, autism, gender-based violence, and LGBTQ+ health. Together, we will co-design a strengths-based research proposal centred on pleasure and safety. By placing people with disability at the centre of decision-making, the project will build a new interdisciplinary team to advance research that informs policy and practice, strengthening capacity in this critical but under-researched area.

Partners and funding

This project is a partnership between the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, Women with Disabilities Victoria, the Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, and La Trobe’s Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group. The project was funded by the National Disability Research Partnership.