Getting support in place can be important to help you feel safe and supported. Many people talk to a family member or friend after a sexual assault, but speaking with a professional can be useful too.

Listed below are some useful support services that can be contacted directly, or our practice team can refer you or your family member:

Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), a confidential 24-hour helpline for people who have experienced sexual assault and domestic violence. They have trained professionals who can talk to you about how you are feeling, and help you work out what you want to do next.

Victims of Crime Assistance League (VOCAL) NSW is a gift-deductible charity assisting people harmed by crime, throughout NSW. Call 02 4926 2711

Rosie’s Place is a counselling and support service for children, young people and families seeking freedom from violence. Rosie’s Place provides sexual assault and domestic and family violence counselling and support for young people and their families. Call (02) 9625 2599

Survivors and Mates Support Network (SAMSN) is a not-for-profit charity that has been developed through collaboration between survivors and professionals to provide services to male survivors, their families, and supporters. Contact SAMSN on 1800 472 676

Men’s Line is a free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men anywhere, anytime. This counseling service often works with survivors of abuse, but can also provide guidance for how to access a mental health care plan and referral from your GP. Call 1300 79 88 79

Community Sexual Assault Services in NSW provide free counselling and support to all people impacted by sexual abuse, family and domestic violence.

There are lots of amazing services to assist young people and there are lots of online spaces to connect with other young people too. We don’t have space to list them all here - but you might already have an online community to support you deal with rough stuff in your life. If you need extra support or want to read about consent in sex or understand more about sexual abuse - you might want to look at pages like:

ReachOut

TeachUsConsent

CREATE Foundation

YouthAction

Deadly Connections

ACON

Youth Off the Streets

Community Restorative Centre Youth Service (02) 9288 8700

You could also call services like:

KidsHelpline 1800 55 1800

Youth law hotline 1800 10 18 10

Getting legal advice can help you to understand your rights and your options. Knowing where to start can feel overwhelming but community legal centres or the Legal Aid office in your state or territory can be a good source of information so you know about your legal options.

In NSW: Law Access has lots of information about the law and your rights. You could call 1300 888 529

In NSW:

Aboriginal Legal Service 1800 765 767 for criminal matters OR 1800 733 233 for care and protection and family law matters

Legal Aid Commission for all types of matters 1300 999 529 (criminal, civil, family law etc)

Community Legal Centres NSW

Victims of violence in Australian states and territories are entitled to some statutory compensation and counselling. Each state has it’s own scheme and there are important time limits to make an application. .

You can get information about victims compensation in NSW by calling 1800 633 63 or visit Victims Services website

You could contact a Legal Aid, Aboriginal Legal Service or a community legal centre in your state or territory for more information about your rights to compensation and counseling.

The National Redress Scheme was established to support people impacted by sexual abuse in an institutional setting. Survivors of institutional abuse have until 2027 to make a claim for compensation through this scheme.

You can contact the National Redress Scheme by calling 1800 737 377

Redress Support Services (RSS) are specialist, trauma-informed, culturally safe, survivor centred services. Free, confidential, practical and emotional support is available before, during and after people make, or consider making, an application to the National Redress Scheme. RSS can refer survivors to knowmore for free legal advice and financial counselling, as well as other community services as needed.

knowmore legal service is a free national legal centre which has been established to provide survivors with support to access the National Redress Scheme . Contact knowmore by calling 1800 605 762 or visiting their webpage