More about my options

If you live in Victoria, Australia you can call two 24 hour services:

  • Sexual Assault Crisis Line – phone 1800 806 292
  • Victorian Police – phone 000. Ask for the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit.

If you call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line

  • You will be able to speak with a Counsellor over the phone about what happened and how you are feeling.
  • They will tell you about medical, legal and counselling services.

Who is a counsellor?

A professional who has been specially trained to support people who have been sexually assaulted or abused. The Counsellor can also speak with medical and legal services on behalf of the person if they want this.

If you call the Police – Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Unit

  • You can report the assault
  • You will be able to speak with a police person from the Unit.
  • The Sexual Assault Crisis Line can contact the police for you if you prefer this.

Both the Sexual Assault Crisis Line and the police can arrange for you to meet face-to-face with a Counsellor from the nearest Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA).

Face-to-face meeting with a CASA Counsellor

  • The meeting will be at a place called a Crisis Care Unit.
  • You can take a friend or relative with you.
  • The police may bring you to the Crisis Care Unit, or a taxi can be arranged.
  • The CASA Counsellor will provide information and support. If you have not reported the assault to the police, they can help with this if you wish.
  • You can have a check-up with a specially trained doctor at the CASA Crisis Care Unit. If you agree, forensic evidence may be collected during this examination – but only if a report has been made to police, and usually only if the assault happened within the last 72 hours.
  • The Counsellor works separately from the police and the Crisis Care Unit doctors, so you can speak privately. If any of the professionals who are looking after you believe you are not safe, the Counsellor may have to talk to other professionals about things you have said.

What is forensic evidence?

This is when a doctor collects evidence for the police and writes a report. Things that might be used as forensic evidence include photographs of bruises or wounds. The Doctor may also take swabs using long medical cotton-buds. Taking swabs means wiping areas of your skin or body to collect items for evidence or for testing.

What is a Crisis Care Unit?

A crisis care unit is a special room usually at a local hospital which
is affiliated with a Centre Against Sexual Assault. It is a private
space where counsellors, doctors and the police can meet with someone
who has been sexually assaulted.

This doctor comes from the Victorian Forensic Paediatric Medical Service

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For more information

For more information about this or to contact the South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault go to the SECASA website.