Your Body, Your Choice was created in response to the increasing number of international students contacting Redfern Legal Centre with questions about sexual assault. Stimson explains that many of these students were either unaware of their rights, or had not reported the incident for fear of having their visas retracted.
"That for us was a huge concern, that if you have a victim of sexual assault who has not come forward because they are on a student visa ... We want to get that messaging out there as quickly as we can that it does not affect your visa status," Sean Stimson said.
The factsheet – produced by Redfern Legal Centre, together with City of Sydney and Study NSW – emphasises that sexual assault is a crime and provides students with contacts for free and confidential counselling, legal support and medical services.
The resource has been translated into 11 different languages, and was developed in consultation with organisations including Rape Crisis NSW, and NSW Police. Stimson says that a multi-language sexual assault resource for students is a first of its kind.
"We looked to see what resources were available to the international student community, and while there was information out there, the information was not specific to the needs of international students. And quite often it wasn't delivered in community languages," Stimson explained.
"The clients that we are seeing we know are only the tip of the iceberg ... We want to be able to provide that support ... whether or not that be legal, whether or not it just be referral based."
Your Body Your, Your Choice will be circulated among universities, education providers and support organisations and is available in print and online from Redfern Legal Centre's International Student Legal Service NSW, City of Sydney and Study NSW.
Listen to the full Razor's Edge interview (segment begins 2 minutes 10 seconds)
