For other professionals

About specialist sexual assault services

The specialist sexual assault service sector in Victoria comprises 18 specialist sexual assault services, including the Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL) and Harmful Sexual Behaviour services (HSB).

Sexual Assault Crisis Line (SACL)

SACL is a state-wide confidential telephone crisis counselling service for people who have experienced both past and recent sexual assault.

It is the central coordination centre for all recent sexual assaults and provides immediate crisis responses throughout Victoria.

SACL operates between 5pm weeknights through to 9am the next day and throughout weekends and public holidays. During business hours, calls to SACL are diverted to a local service.

Phone: 1800 806 292

Sexual Assault Services

There are 18 Sexual Assault Services throughout Victoria. They support victim survivors of sexual assault and their family members.

Sexual assault services provide free and confidential sexual assault counselling, and crisis and support services.

They work with all victim survivors of sexual assault and sexual violence, including:
• Women
• Children
• Young people
• Men
• People who identify as gender diverse.

Please contact your local service for information on how to refer clients.

Harmful Sexual Behaviour Services

HSB services are for children and young people who have engaged in harmful sexual behaviour. They provide responsive, developmentally appropriate treatment programs to address the harmful sexual behaviour and the underlying harm they have experienced.

Please contact your local service for information on how to refer clients.

Education & training for professionals about sexual assault

 

Sexual Assault Services can provide community education and training for those who would like to gain skills and understanding about working with victim/survivors of sexual assault. People who attend our workshops come from health and welfare, counselling and medical fields. Some workshops are also suitable for students.

Areas covered can include:

  • enhanced understanding of sexual assault

  • the role of SAS in supporting victim/survivors

  • sexual assault & the legal system

  • structural & social conditions that enable sexual assault & other violent crimes

  • strategies to help prevent sexual assault

  • the nature & impacts of sexual assault & key elements of effective responses

  • information about referral options & professional support

  • essential foundations for safe sexual assault counselling

  • theoretical frameworks & a victims-rights advocacy model of responding to victim/survivors of sexual assault

  • skills & strategies for responding to people in crisis because of sexual assault

  • examination of vicarious trauma for workers

To discuss your organisations training needs, contact your local service.