Sexual assault support services
Content warning
This article discusses sexual assault. If you’re currently in distress, please head to 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for support.
Finding support after you’ve been sexually assaulted can feel confusing and overwhelming. We’ve put together this guide to help you understand what sexual assault is, and to know what help is available if you’ve been sexually assaulted.
What is sexual assault?
‘Sexual assault’ is when you are forced, coerced or tricked into doing something sexual that you don't want to do. It covers a wide range of unwanted sexual behaviours that can involve strangers, people you know, partners or family.
If you aren’t sure if what you have experienced is sexual assault, there are professionals available who can help you to process what’s happened. They can also help you to decide whether or not you want to report the offender to the police or to take some other kind of action.
Find out everything you need to know about sexual assault .
What to do if you've been sexually assaulted
If you think you have been sexually assaulted, it’s not something you have to cope with on your own. Here are some things you can do straight away:
-
Make sure you are physically and psychologically safe. This could mean calling 000 immediately, or a helpline such as 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) , for emotional support.
-
Talk to a trusted adult – like a parent or guardian – or ask a friend for help. If you’re finding it hard to work up the courage to start the conversation, check out some tips for talking to someone you trust .
-
Visit a hospital, your GP clinic or a sexual assault support service. If you have been sexually assaulted recently, a doctor could provide you with emergency contraception or a test for sexually transmitted diseases. They might also talk to you about having a rape kit, which is where they try to take samples of the perpetrator’s DNA from your clothes and body.
You might also want to take action against your perpetrator, so that you can feel that justice has been served for the crime they committed against you. For more advice,read our article on how to take action against your perpetrator .
Remember: sexual assault is not your fault. The only person responsible for what happened is the perpetrator. There is also no ‘right’ way to respond to sexual assault. Every survivor’s recovery from sexual assault will look different. It’s important that you choose what happens next.
National sexual assault support services
Provides confidential sexual assault and family and domestic violence counselling via phone and webchat.
For 24/7 support, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT online chat .
Provides 24/7 telephone and face-to-face counselling for people impacted by institutional child sexual abuse. This means adults who were sexually assaulted as a child at an institution such as a school, church, club or children’s home. The counselling is offered to survivors, as well as to other people impacted, such as parents or the professionals who work with survivors.
Call their 24/7 National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service helpline at 1800 211 028, or visit the Full Stop website for more information.
Provides 24/7 telephone trauma counselling from counsellors who have completed specialist training to support anyone in Australia who is from the LGBTQIA+ community and has experienced domestic, family or sexual violence, either recently or in the past. The service also provides telephone support to family members, friends and supporters, or to professionals who are impacted by violence targeted towards the LGBTQIA+ community.
Call the 24/7 helpline at 1800 497 212, or visit the Full Stop website for more information.
Provides phone and email-based support for adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse, as well as for their supporters and the professionals who work with them.
Call 1300 657 380 between 9 am and 5 pm 7 days a week, or email helpline@blueknot.org.au. You can visit the Blue Knot website for more information.
State/territory-based sexual assault support services
NSW Sexual Violence Helpline
Provides 24/7 telephone and online trauma counselling for anyone in New South Wales whose life has been impacted by sexual violence, including survivors as well as their friends, families and supporters. They also provide support to others who have been impacted by this violence, such as police, journalists or other professionals.
Call the 24/7 helpline at 1800 424 017, or visit the Full Stop website for more information.
NSW Health Sexual Assault Services
A directory of support services in New South Wales from the state government’s Prevention and Response to Violence Abuse and Neglect service.
Visit the NSW Health Sexual Assault Services directory for more information.
Survivors & Mates Support Network (SAMSN)
Group support for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse and their supporters living in New South Wales, or who were abused in New South Wales and live interstate or overseas.
Call 1800 472 676 between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays, or email support@samsn.org.au. Visit the Survivors & Mates Support Network website for more information.
Sexual Assault Helpline Queensland
Provides phone-based support and counselling to any Queenslander who has, or thinks they may have, been sexually assaulted or abused.
Call 1800 010 120 between 7.30 am and 11.30 pm 7 days a week, or visit the Sexual Assault Helpline Queensland website for more information.
Womensline
Free and confidential telephone crisis helpline to support Queensland women who want to escape domestic violence. They can provide domestic violence survivors with emergency transport, emergency accommodation, crisis counselling, safety planning, and safe accommodation for pets.
Call their 24/7 hotline on 1800 811 811, or visit the Womensline website for more information.
Mensline
Free and confidential telephone crisis counselling, referral and support service for men living in Queensland.
Call 1800 600 636 between 9 am and midnight 7 days a week, or visit the Mensline website for more information.
Victim Connect
Free and confidential service providing information and advice to victims of violent crime in Queensland, and to their family and friends. They also provide free, short-term, multi-session counselling for victims of violent crime, including sexual assault.
Call their 24/7 hotline on 1300 318 940, or visit the Victim Connect website for more information.
QLD Health Sexual Assault Services
Directory of local support services throughout Queensland from Queensland Health.
To find your nearest sexual assault service in Queensland, visit the QLD Health Sexual Assault Services website .
Sexual Assault Services Victoria
Directory of Victorian specialist sexual assault services.
To find your nearest sexual assault service in Victoria, email contactus@sasvic.org.au, or visit the Sexual Assault Services Victoria website .
Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Free, statewide, after-hours telephone crisis counselling service for people in Victoria who have experienced sexual assault or violence.
Free call 1800 806 292 between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays, and throughout weekends and public holidays. Visit the Sexual Assault Crisis Line website for more information.
Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC)
Face-to-face support services for survivors of sexual abuse, assault or harassment. There is also a crisis helpline available.
Call the crisis support line on 02 6247 2525 between 7 am and 11 pm 7 days a week. If you aren't comfortable calling the helpline, you can receive confidential sexual assault counselling over text at 0488 586 518. Visit the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre (CRCC) website for more information.
Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault (SAMSSA)
Specialised service for men over the age of 16 who have experienced sexual abuse, assault or harassment. Both face-to-face and phone counselling are available.
Call 02 6247 2525 between 7 am and 11 pm 7 days a week, or visit the Service Assisting Male Survivors of Sexual Assault website for more information.
NT Sexual Assault Referral Centres
List of free sexual assault support clinics in the Northern Territory provided within the territory’s public health system.
Visit the NT Sexual Assault Referral Centres website to find your nearest service.
Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Darwin)
Casuarina-based centre providing both phone and face-to-face support and counselling services.
Call 08 8922 6472 between 8 am and 4.30 pm to book an appointment. You can also call the same number at any time for emergency support. Visit the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (Darwin) website for more information.
Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Counsellor (Alice Springs)
Centre in Alice Springs providing both phone and face-to-face support and counselling services.
Call 08 8952 6075 between 8 am and 4.20 pm on weekdays to book an appointment. You can also call their after-hours line on 0401 114 181 for emergency support. Visit the Sexual Assault Referral Centre and Counsellor (Alice Springs) website for more information.
Uniting Communities
Provides counselling services for young people aged 12–25 and their families. Available for recent and past sexual abuse and assault. Counselling service fees depend on your income. If you earn less than $25,000 a year, you’ll pay as little as $5 a session.
Call 08 8202 5060 between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays, or email counselling@unitingcommunities.org. Visit the Uniting Communities website for more information.
Yarrow Place
Public health agency responding to rape and sexual assault in South Australia for people aged 16 years and over at the time of the sexual assault. Yarrow Place provides many services, including a 24/7 crisis response service, professional counselling, and support groups.
Call 1800 817 421, or email info@yarrowplace.sa.gov.au. Visit the Yarrow Place website for more information.
Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS)
Free and confidential support service for Tasmanian people of all ages who have been affected by any form of sexual violence. They also provide Redress Scheme Support Services (support for victims of institutional child sexual abuse) across Tasmania.
Call their 24/7 hotline on 1800 697 877. Visit the Sexual Assault Support Service website for more information.
Laurel House Launceston
Provides face-to-face counselling to adults and children affected by sexual assault in the north, north-east and north-west of Tasmania. They provide a 24/7 support hotline, 1800 697 877, as well as free counselling, training and education.
Visit the Laurel House website for more information.
Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC)
Provides services, including emergency services and emergency crisis counselling, to people over the age of 13 affected by sexual violence.
For crisis medical help, call 08 6458 1828 or 1800 199 888 (freecall from landlines) any time day or night. For telephone counselling, call between 8.30 am and 11 pm 7 days a week. Visit the Sexual Assault Resource Centre website for more information.
Sexual assault hotline translation services and help for people with disabilities
For callers who require a translating or interpreting service.
Phone 13 14 50 and ask them to contact the phone number of the service you want to get in touch with.
Visit the Translating and Interpreting Service website for more information.
For callers who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech impairment.
For TTY (teletype) users or voice calls, phone 133 677 and ask them to contact the number of the service you want to connect with.
For Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay), phone 1300 555 727 and ask them to contact the number of the service you want to connect with.
Visit the National Relay Service website for more information.
What can I do now?
-
Contact 1800RESPECT to find out more information and get support.
-
If you’re in immediate danger, call 000.
