The role of Sexual and Gender-based Violence Response/Advisors (SGVRA) on Ontario campuses
Each university and college in Ontario has a SGVRA. They may have difference job titles i.e. Sexual and Gender-based Violence Response/Advisor, Coordinator or Consultant.
The role of this person is to coordinate responses for the campus community to all forms of sexual violence. This includes supporting survivors by being the confidential point of contact for students and staff who disclose sexual violence, providing information about reporting options, supporting and assisting in connecting to resources and in developing safety plans; as well as providing advocacy with various areas in the institution that are sources for logistical support and institutional accommodations, providing assistance with navigating judicial and medical systems and case management.
In addition to coordinating sexual violence education on campus, the SGVRA can provide specific and immediate support to those who have received disclosures: providing additional information, debriefing with the responder, and receiving information for reporting purposes.
When survivors of sexual violence choose to disclose, the first person they tell will likely be someone they already trust. On campus this can be a classmate, staff or faculty member. Most institution procedures require that the responder contact the SGVRA as soon as possible to make sure that all information and non-judgmental support has been relayed to the survivor, to initiate ongoing emotional and logistical support and follow-up, and advocacy within and on behalf of the institution (see logistical support and institutional accommodations).
The nature of each response can have a significant effect on the victim’s well-being and decisions about next steps. The SGVRA advisor takes the lead on enhancing and monitoring this.