Research has consistently shown that jurors are influenced by multiple schemas in cases of alleged sexual assault, including offense stereotypes and victim stereotypes. These schemas appear to be organized in a hierarchy, as victim stereotypicality seems to matter most in acquaintance assaults (counter-stereotypical offense). However, despite numerous studies demonstrating the impact of defendant stereotypes on juror perceptions of guilt for other crimes, to date, the impact of stereotypes about defendants (perpetrators) in cases involving sexual violence have been overlooked. As such, the current research aimed to build on the existing hierarchical schema model by systematically examining the influence of perpetrator stereotypes. Following pilot work, mock jurors' ( N = 163) read a rape scenario that varied in terms of offense stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical), victim stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical), and perpetrator stereotypicality (stereotypical, counter-stereotypical). Broadly consistent effects of offense stereotypicality and victim stereotypicality were observed across the outcome measures, such that the victim was perceived more positively and the perpetrator more negatively when the victim was described as being stereotypical and when the offense was described as stereotypical. However, contrary to past findings, the effect of victim stereotypicality did not differ as a function of offense stereotypicality. Furthermore, perpetrator stereotypicality did not influence perceptions in the stereotypical offense scenario. These findings suggest that contrary to the assertions of previous research, there is not a series of specific, individual stereotypes that impact attributions of blame, rather, there may be one underlying schema about consent that influences perceptions. These findings have important implications for how we address the effect of juror-held schemas on attributions of blame in cases of sexual assault.

Background Combating alcohol related harm in New Zealand takes a concerted effort by many sectors of the community working together with a shared vision. Needs analysis identified a dearth of youth alcohol harm minimisation resource material to support curriculum delivery in Whanganui secondary schools. The project aimed to co-ordinate development of a youth informed digital video disc (DVD) to address this gap. It sought to engage youth in conversations around harm minimisation and curriculum resource development and to increase community collaboration in support of this. Evaluation focussed on project activities and short term outcomes. Aims/Objectives/Purpose Evaluation aims included identifying levels of stakeholder engagement, particularly among youth, factors influencing engagement and impact of the resource on youth awareness. Methods Mixed methods were used with a focus on a qualitative approach. Information was collected via debrief sessions, document analysis (including photographic records), youth pre and post DVD viewing feedback and participant observation. Results/Outcomes Youth were successfully engaged in key project implementation phases. This was influenced by opportunities to have meaningful input. Youth pre and post DVD viewing data indicated significant increases in awareness of the effects of alcohol and of strategies for keeping safer around alcohol. Significance/Contribution to the Field A youth informed DVD resource is now available to support alcohol harm minimisation curriculum delivery in Whanganui. The potential for the DVD to be used more widely has been identified with ACC developing complimentary ‘wrap around’ resources to encourage familial relationships and conversations about alcohol and young people. Communities can individualise the resource to suit their needs.

You have all provided countless hours of advising, thinking, talking, commenting, reading and re-reading to help get this program of research to happen. Barbara-Thank you for sharing your incredible knowledge and for believing in me. It's been an absolute pleasure to work with you and to get to know you over the years. I am immensely grateful for the opportunities you've given me, for your guidance and mentoring, and for taking the time to occasionally just talk nonsense with me. Sharon-I'm so glad to have had you on my supervisory team. Your knowledge, insight and feedback were invaluable and you have been a great source of support and encouragement. Thank you for all of the time an effort that you dedicated to me and this research and I can't thank you enough. Blake-Thank you for sharing your intellect, insight and time. Your knowledge and application of theory is enviable and I hope to one day have an internal library to draw on like you do! Thank you for all you've done over the years. To my academic "family"; I've been so lucky to get to know this bunch of smart, funny, and wickedly kind academic folks. Morgana Lizzio-Wilson, Mischel Luong, Bill Bingley and Tulsi Achia. You are all incredibly talented and I can't wait to see what's in store for you all. A special thanks to Tamara, Cass, Wuri, Amelia, Sarah, Abbey, and Kelsey for your friendship. Thanks also to the folks in the ASP Lab group and to the QUT School of Justice. In particular, Michael Flood, Bridget Harris and Toby Miles-Johnson, you have been so welcoming, and I look forward to continue my work with you. Finally, there is no possible way that I could have gotten to this point without a support crew. What a journey, hey? In particular, I want to thank Chris for being my crash mat, my sounding board, and team mate. You are endlessly patient, steady and kind. My fur babies, Albus, Ludo and the late Lupin. They have taken countless shifts supervising this thesis, and provided me with some much-needed, and some not-so-much-needed distractions. To my chosen family and those friends who have become PhD widows over the past few months, Andrew, Roz, Jo, Aaron, Carol and the rest of the Milne's, Cat, Audrey, Jodie, and Steven; You've all helped to keep me sane in a million different ways. I could not have done this on my own, and I am extremely grateful that you have been there. And finally, to Britt, and the crew at Ground for giving me a place to work and for keeping me fed and caffeinated. This PhD business takes a village. x Dedication This is for the survivors. This is for the queers, the weirdos, and the deviants. For the survivors who didn't fit the mould of a "good victim". The survivors who stood up for themselves and were told that they provoked the abuse. The survivors who didn't fight back, and were told that they let it happen. For those whose neighbours heard, and dismissed it as "just a domestic". For those who thought that help had come, only to find new forms abuse among systems and people who they thought would help them. This is for the...