‘Just A Witness.’ Inside A Sexual Assault Trial In Australia

In October 2019, 23-year-old Sarah Rosenberg went on a date at Sydney’s noodle markets with a man she had recently met on a dating app. But when they returned to his place and Sarah explained that she was feeling unwell and didn’t want to be intimate, the night turned into a horrific nightmare. 

What followed was a grueling journey through a legal system that often felt like it was putting Sarah on trial rather than the man accused. From having her private medical and therapy records subpoenaed to enduring four and a half days of brutal cross-examination without her own lawyer, Sarah experienced firsthand how deeply the justice system can disempower survivors of sexual violence.

In this episode of True Crime Conversations, Sarah Rosenberg joins Gemma Bath to share her story, expose the hidden realities of reporting sexual assault in Australia, and discuss how her experience led her to found With You We Can, a registered charity and legal education platform designed to support victims navigating the process.

Together, they examine the urgent need for structural reform, the push for independent legal representation for victim-survivors, protecting confidential counselling records, and how to restore agency to those seeking justice.

LINKS

If any of the contents in this episode have caused distress, know that there is help available via Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.

Contact Full Stop Australia on 1800 385 578, 7 days, 24 hours.

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CREDITS 

Guests: Sarah Rosenberg

Host: Gemma Bath 

Senior Producer & Producer: Tahli Blackman & Ella Maitland

Video Editor: Julian Rosario

Audio Designer: Tegan Salder

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