Recovery Hub
Safety and support
After experiencing sexual violence, it’s common not to feel physically or psychologically safe. This can change. You have the right to live a life free from sexual violence.
Being psychologically safe means that you feel comfortable and safe enough to explore your thoughts and feelings and to start making sense of what happened to you.
The information on this page is for people living in Victoria, Australia. If you are outside of Victoria, you can call 1800RESPECT or see the Australian Sexual Assault Services Directory.
IMMEDIATE HELP AFTER SEXUAL VIOLENCE
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 000.
Sexual Assault Crisis Line
If you’ve recently been sexually assaulted or need after-hours support in Victoria, you can call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) to speak to a specialist counsellor.
When you call SACL, you will be listened to and believed. SACL can help you to understand your rights and options.
How to call SACL:
- Counselling line: 1800 806 292 (anytime)
- After-hours crisis care: 1800 577 011 (after-hours, on weekends and public holidays)
Crisis care is support for people who have experienced a recent sexual assault. You can learn more about crisis care in our easy read booklet.
Family violence immediate support
If you have experienced violence from a current or former partner or family member (including family-like relationships), you may want to call Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre, Safe Steps.
Safe Steps provides confidential crisis support, information and accommodation.
How to contact Safe Steps:
- Phone 1800 015 188
- Email safesteps@safesteps.org.au
- Web chat support service available 9am to midnight, Monday to Friday
Reporting to police
Sexual assault and abuse are against the law. You can report to the police at any time, if this is what you want to do.
Making the decision about whether to report sexual assault or abuse to the police can feel overwhelming. Being fully informed about what to expect will help you to make a decision about how to proceed.
FAMILY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION ORDER (FVIVO)
If you have experienced sexual (or other) violence from a current or former partner, a family violence intervention order is one way you can keep yourself and/or your children safe. A family violence intervention order can also keep you safe from stalking or harassment, including when it happens online.
If a child is sexually abused by a family member, this is also family violence and an intervention order can help keep them safe.
Sometimes these are called Family Violence Safety Notices when they are issued by the police.
Victoria Legal Aid has information about family violence intervention orders, including how to apply for one.
PERSONAL SAFETY ORDER (PSO)
A personal safety order can keep you safe from someone who is not a family member or current or former partner. These can also keep you safe from stalking or harassment, including when it happens online.
Victoria Legal Aid has information about personal safety orders, including how to apply for one.
Finding help aFTER IMAGE-BASED abuse
Sharing intimate images or videos without consent is illegal. This includes images that have been produced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) or ‘Nudify’ apps. You can report this to the police.
You can also report image-based abuse to The eSafety Commission (eSafety). eSafety can help get the content taken down if it’s been shared online.
eSafety also has information about preventing intimate images or videos being shared.
OtHER LEGAL INFORMATION, ADVICE AND SUPPORT
You may need additional legal advice, information and support to do with your ongoing safety. For example, advice on family law, parenting, child protection or housing.
The Federation of Community Legal Centres is a good place to start. Their directory includes local and specialised legal centres such as those for survivors of child sexual abuse, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTIQA+ communities and multicultural communities.
Specialist sexual assault services
Speaking to a counsellor can help you make sense of your experience of sexual violence. Counsellor Advocates in specialist sexual assault services can help you feel less worried and explore your options.
Calling a specialist sexual assault service
Specialist sexual assault services are open from 9am – 5pm. If you need to speak to someone outside of office hours, you can always call 1800 806 292 to reach the Sexual Assault Crisis Line.
