Hamley, LoganBurton, Margot2025-12-072025-12-072025https://hdl.handle.net/10289/17809This thesis examines the role of community-based support groups in fostering healing among survivors of sexual violence, with a particular focus on understanding the benefits and challenges of participation in such groups. Sexual violence is a pervasive social issue with long-lasting impacts on survivors. While individual therapeutic interventions are often prioritised, community-based support groups offer a unique pathway for healing through shared experiences, validation, and social support. The importance of support groups is highlighted in the literature on support services in Aotearoa New Zealand and globally, however survivors often face significant barriers in accessing support due to stigma and other systemic factors. This study seeks to address these gaps by exploring how support groups contribute to healing in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. Using a qualitative research design, individual interviews and online qualitative questionnaires were conducted with survivors who had attended support groups. Reflexive thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: Safety, Healing, and Navigating Systems. Safety emerged as a critical factor, encompassing the role of facilitators, group guidelines, and the overall group culture. Healing was facilitated through validation, connection, trust, and empowerment within the group setting. The theme of Navigating Systems highlighted the complexities of accessing services, engaging with support systems, and recognising healing as a continuous lifelong journey. The findings emphasise the need for trauma-informed, community-based interventions and advocate for policy and practices that enhance the accessibility and effectiveness of support groups. The findings of this study underscore the importance of safe, well-facilitated support group spaces and the need for greater accessibility to support groups for survivors of sexual violence. It also emphasises the role of policy in sustaining survivor-centred services that can foster healing and resilience tailored to meet the needs of different communities and cultures.enAll items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.Thesis