NSW Police and the Department of Community and Justice are to review safety protocols at major evacuation centres after claims of sexual assault at a Lismore centre during the February 2022 floods.  A Newcastle University study says “bad things” happened at an evacuation centre after the Northern Rivers floods Associate professor Wendy Foote says vulnerable people shared space with registered sex offenders and drug users A Department of Communities and Justice spokesperson says the goverment will review the recommendations The anecdotal claims have surfaced in a Newcastle University study that includes some participants recounting significant safety issues at the main evacuation centre at the Southern Cross University campus. “We know that DV perpetrators, registered sex offenders, people who were drug users and cut off from their supply were all in there together with women and children,” said associate professor Wendy Foote, who led the study. “We know that bad things happened. “We need triaging when it comes to putting people together who are all in shock and managing some of the most difficult experiences in their life.” Hundreds of people were taken to evacuation centres in Lismore during the record flooding in February 2022. ( ) Dr Foote said of 24 people interviewed in the study, three participants mentioned they had heard of sexual assault occurring at the evacuation centre. She said the report was not a forensic investigation into the assaults. “One of the most difficult things to hear from our research is that participants reported sexual abuse happening in that location, unwanted pregnancy occurring as a result of it, and in the chaos, where you don’t have access to pharmacies, contraception or abortion that has long-term implications for women.”   The Goonellabah Sports and Aquatic Centre (GSAC) flood evacuation centre was set up after the Southern Cross University centre reached capacity. ( ) Former Lismore Mayor Jenny Dowell volunteered for weeks at the flood evacuation centre. “I didn’t witness or hear anything from anyone directly involved in all my days and hours there over several weeks,” she said. “But I heard of them from other people, so second and third hand. “In the early times, the numbers don’t warrant a separate room being set up because that means you also have to have extra people volunteering. “As numbers grew, separate rooms were set up for women and children, for families.” Jenny Dowell spent weeks volunteering at the evacuation centre after the flooding disaster. ( North Coast: Bruce MacKenzie ) Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she was not notified of incidents of sexual assault occurring at the centre, but some reports of violence. “A couple of times, I was told there was some argy-bargy going on or some people feeling vulnerable or threatened.” “Initially, there had been no security I made sure that happened at a bigger level.” Ms Saffin, who is now NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery, said the reports of assault were “shocking” and lessons needed to be learnt. Ms Saffin said access to sexual assault services was an ongoing issue prior to the catastrophic flood event. “It’s always been difficult for women to have termination services,” she said. “They have to travel north up the Tweed or to Queensland.” Police-led review underway NSW Police Minster Yasmin Catley said people dealing with the aftermath of a natural disaster needed to feel safe when they sought help. Ms Catley says the state’s Major Evacuation Centre plan will be reviewed by NSW Police and the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). “I think we need to make sure that people who are already vulnerable are not in any way becoming more vulnerable in that situation,” she said. ‘That’s exactly what DCJ will look at.” A DCJ spokesperson said the government would review the report recommendations to ensure “the safety of women and children is embedded in emergency responses, from rescue to recovery”. A NSW police spokesperson said they were unable to confirm anecdotal reports of assault at the evacuation centre.