Sexual offence expert evidence panel
Sexual violence information sessions for legal practitioners
In recognition that October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, the District Court will conduct legal practitioner information sessions in Brisbane and Townsville about its case management and sexual offence expert evidence panel pilots.
The Brisbane session will include an introduction to Stream 2 of the Sexual Offence Expert Evidence Panel (Panel) pilot and an update on the Sexual Violence Case Management pilot, marking 12 months since commencement of Practice Direction 3 of 2024 . The Townsville session will focus solely on Stream 2 of the Panel.
Register now for the Brisbane session to be held in the Banco Court, QEII Court of Law, on Tuesday 7 October 2025 from 5.00pm to 6.30pm (refreshments from 4.30pm). His Honour Chief Judge Devereaux SC will participate in the session. Practitioners can attend in person or online.
Register now for the Townsville session to be held at the Townsville courthouse on Thursday 16 October 2025 from 4.00pm to 5.00pm (refreshments from 3.30pm). His Honour Judge John Coker DCJ will introduce the session. Practitioners can attend in person or online.
Overview
Queensland Courts is piloting a Sexual Offence Expert Evidence Panel (the Panel) to allow experts to give relevant evidence in sexual violence proceedings.
The Panel implements Recommendations 80 and 43 of the Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce report Hear her voice: Report Two.
The Panel has two streams of experts to service referrals for matters in specified courts at pilot locations in Brisbane and Townsville:
- Stream 1 will allow an expert to give relevant evidence about the defendant in a proceeding for a relevant offence. Specifically, as to whether the defendant’s cognitive and/or mental health impairment at the time of the alleged offence was a substantial cause of the person not saying or doing anything to ascertain whether the other person consented to the sexual act.
- Stream 2 will allow experts to give counterintuitive evidence about the nature of sexual offences and the social, psychological and cultural factors that may affect the behaviour of a person who has been, or alleges to be, the victim of a relevant sexual offence as requested by the prosecution, defence, or court.
Referrals
Referrals for Stream 1 and Stream 2 experts are now open
Stream 1:
You can lodge a referral to access the services of a Panel expert if:
- your matter is being heard in either Brisbane or Townsville Supreme, District or Childrens Courts and involves an offence against Chapter 32 of the Criminal Code, and;
- you require an expert opinion around a defendant’s cognitive and/or mental health impairment, and its impact on the defendant’s ability to say or do something to affirm consent, following the introduction of affirmative consent in Queensland on 23 September 2024.
The Stream 1 referral form can be submitted:
- electronically online or via email
- via post
- via email as scanned copy to the Program Team.
Stream 2:
You can lodge a referral to access the services of a Panel expert if:
- the matter involves a relevant offence under Chapter 22 or 32 of the Criminal Code
- you require general, educative expert counterintuitive evidence about the nature of sexual offences and the social, psychological and cultural factors that may affect the behaviour of a person who has been, or alleges to be, the victim of a relevant sexual offence
- the matter is being heard in the Supreme and District Courts of Brisbane or Townsville or a Magistrates Court in Brisbane, Caboolture, Cleveland, Redcliffe or Townsville
- the originating step occurred on or after 20 September 2025
The Stream 2 referral form can be submitted:
- electronically online or via email
- via post
- via email as scanned copy to the Program Team.
On receiving referrals, the Program Team will ensure that the matter meets the eligibility criteria, undertake a matching process, and contact the requesting party once an expert has been appointed to the matter.
If you have any questions about the referral form, or the matching process, contact the Program Team on (07) 3564 7748.
Experts
Ongoing recruitment for Stream 1 and Stream 2 experts
A procurement process has already been finalised for Stream 1 and Stream 2 experts. If, however, you are interested in being appointed as a Panel Expert, you can lodge an application directly with the Program Team using the application form .
A Program Team member will contact you when you lodge your application to provide information on timeframes for application processing.
Legislation
The Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024 was passed by Queensland Parliament on 6 March 2024 and contained changes to the Criminal Code and Evidence Act 1977 which provided the legislative basis for an expert from the Panel to give Stream 1 evidence.
In addition, the Criminal Justice Legislation (Sexual Violence and Other Matters) Amendment Act 2024 contains amendments to the Evidence Act to provide a legislative basis for Stream 2 evidence.
Information session
To support practitioners in preparing for implementation of Stream 1, the Court held an information session on 22 January 2025 in Brisbane. Watch this seminar.
Further information
For more about the Panel’s operations, refer to the documents in under 'Useful links' on this page.
If you have any questions about this program, contact the Program Team on (07) 3564 7748.