Questions

1.​Has the Act reduced or stopped change or suppression practices? Describe any impact you think the Act has had on the occurrence or the nature of change or suppression practices.

2.​To what extent do you think the community is aware of and understands:

a.​the Act and how it works

b.​what change or suppression practices are

c.​the harm caused by change or suppression practices.

3.​Could the Act’s operation and effectiveness be improved? If so, how?

4.​How clear is the Act’s definition of what is and is not a change or suppression practice? If further clarity is needed, what forms of clarification would be most helpful?

5.​How clear is the exclusion for health service providers? If further clarity is needed, how could this best be achieved?

6.​Is greater clarity needed about how people of faith can hold and express their beliefs to support clear understanding and compliance with the Act? What forms of clarification would be most helpful?

7.​How effective are VEOHRC’s awareness and education materials on change or suppression practices? What improvements, if any, could help strengthen community understanding and compliance?

8.​Are there any barriers to:

a.​reporting change or suppression practices to VEOHRC

b.​VEOHRC facilitating outcomes of reports

c.​VEOHRC conducting investigations.

​If so, please describe what those barriers are.

9.​Are there changes that could help support VEOHRC to carry out its functions or improve the effectiveness of the civil response scheme? If so, please describe any changes.

10.​Are there barriers to reporting, investigating and prosecuting criminal change or suppression offences? If so, what are they?

11.​Are there other aspects of the criminal offences in the Act that limit their effective operation? If so, what changes or supports could improve their operation?

12.​Do existing avenues for redress adequately meet the needs of victim-survivors of change or suppression practices? Are there gaps, harms or barriers that require an additional or separate redress mechanism?

13.​Should a civil cause of action be introduced under the Act? What distinct purpose would it serve compared to existing pathways?