Sexual abuse and assault: getting help
If you have been impacted by sexual assault, rape or sexual violence, it is important to know there are a range of help and support options available. Nobody asks or deserves to be a victim of sexual violence. It is not your fault and you are not to blame.
On this page:
- If you have recently been assaulted
- Where to get support
- Recovery from sexual violence
- Child sexual abuse
If you have recently been assaulted
If you are in immediate danger, phone Triple Zero (000) or go to the emergency department at your local hospital.
If you have recently experienced sexual assault, rape or sexual violence, get yourself to a safe place as soon as possible and:
- phone the police and/or ambulance on Triple Zero (000)
- go to the emergency department at your local hospital
- phone the Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120 (7.30am to 11.30pm, 7 days a week).
These services can help you by providing information and referrals to free counselling and support and medical care, including:
- emergency contraception
- medical examinations
- testing for sexually transmissible infections (STIs).
You can access free healthcare in public hospitals and health services if you don’t have Medicare and need help as a result of a domestic and family violence or sexual assault experience.
If you are thinking of reporting the violence to the police it is important that you do not change your clothes, comb your hair or wash yourself. This may remove evidence. If you decide to have a medical examination, the medical officer will:
- talk with you about the examination process
- gather evidence in case you decide to report to the police
- discuss the possibility of pregnancy and STIs.
If you think you may be at risk of pregnancy, talk to a doctor about emergency contraception.
You can also report a sexual assault to the Police online.
If you want to report sexual violence that happened to you in the past, including as a child, call Policelink on 131 444.
In addition, Alternative Reporting Options are available for people who wish to provide the police with the full circumstances of their assault without making a formal complaint. You can remain anonymous and this can be a positive healing strategy, as well as an effective strategy for law enforcement agencies as the information you provide could be used to solve similar reported offences.
Sexual abuse or violence may also be a form of domestic and family violence if you are in an intimate or romantic relationship, family, or informal carer relationship with the abuser.
Where to get support
Community-based sexual violence support services can provide you with both immediate and ongoing support to improve your personal safety and ensure you have access to the healing, justice and support that you need to recover. Sexual violence support services will listen to you and believe you.
| Service provider | Phone number | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 13 HEALTH | 13 43 25 84 | Statewide |
| Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline | 1800 010 120 | Statewide |
| 1800RESPECT | 1800 737 732 | Nationwide |
| DVConnect | 1800 811 811 | Statewide |
| Queensland Health Sexual Assault Service |
(07) 3646 5207 (07) 3810 1111 (07) 4652 7983 (07) 4968 3919 or after hours (07) 4968 6000 (07) 4744 4088 (07) 4616 6950 or after hours (07) 4616 6000 |
Brisbane Ipswich Longreach Mackay Mount Isa Toowoomba |
| Victim Assist Queensland | 1300 546 587 | Statewide |
| Women’s Legal Service Queensland | 1800 957 957 | Statewide |
| 54 Reasons | 1800 874 996 | Statewide |
| Blue Knot | 1300 657 380 | Statewide |
| Victim Connect | 1300 318 940 | Statewide |
| Legal Aid | 1300 651 188 | Statewide |
| Lifeline | 13 11 14 | Statewide |
| Kids Helpline | 1800 551 800 | Statewide |
| Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivor Support Centre (BRISSC) | (07) 3391 0004 |
Brisbane Inala |
| Cairns Sexual Assault Service | (07) 4031 3590 | Cairns |
| Centacare Family Relationship Services | (07) 4162 5439 | Kingaroy |
| Centre Against Sexual Violence | (07) 3808 3299 |
Beaudesert Logan Redlands |
| Gladstone Women's Health Centre | (07) 4979 1456 | Gladstone |
| Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence | (07) 5591 1164 | Southport |
| Immigrant Women’s Support Service (IWSS) | (07) 3846 3490 | Brisbane |
| Laurel Place |
(07) 5482 7911 (07) 5443 4711 (07) 5499 2096 |
Gympie/Murgon Maroochydore Moreton Bay |
| Lifeline Darling Downs and Southwest | 1300 991 431 | Roma |
| Mackay Women's Sexual Assault Service | (07) 4953 1788 | Mackay |
MARS Australia (for men affected by rape and sexual abuse) | (07) 3857 1222 | Brisbane |
| Mount Isa/Gulf Domestic and Family Violence Service | (07) 4749 1901 | Mount Isa |
| Murrigunyah Family and Cultural Healing Centre | (07) 3290 4254 | Logan |
| Phoenix House | (07) 4153 4299 | Bundaberg |
| Service Against Sexual Violence |
(07) 3816 3282 (07) 4566 2633 |
Ipswich Toowoomba |
| Sisters Inside Sexual Assault Service (for women who are or have been in prison) | (07) 3844 5066 | Brisbane |
| Tablelands Sexual Assault Service | (07) 4091 4036 | Atherton |
| True Child and Family Service | (07) 4031 3590 | Cairns |
| Whitsunday Counselling and Support | (07) 4946 2999 | Whitsundays |
| Wide Bay Sexual Assault Services | (07) 4194 5230 | Wide Bay |
| Women's Centre Townsville | (07) 4775 7555 | Townsville |
| Women's Health Centre Rockhampton | (07) 4922 6585 | Rockhampton |
| WWILD Sexual Violence Prevention Service (for women with intellectual disability) | (07) 3262 9877 | Brisbane |
| Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre (for young women aged 12 to 25 years) | (07) 3843 1823 |
Brisbane Brisbane North (Nundah) Brisbane Southwest (Richlands/Inala) |
Recovery from sexual violence
Sexual violence can have immediate and long-term effects on your health and wellbeing. This can include physical health issues as a result of the assault, or longer term health issues due to the impact of trauma.
Find out more about how to recover from sexual violence.
Child sexual abuse
Find out about the signs of child sexual abuse and how to report it.
If a child is in immediate danger, phone Triple Zero (000).
If you are a young person and want to speak to someone about child sexual abuse, contact Kids Helpline on:
- phone 1800 55 1800 (24-hour service)
- email a counsellor
- web chat counselling (open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year).