Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual behaviour or activity that makes the victim feel uncomfortable, frightened or threatened.
It is sexual activity that the person has not consented to and refers to a broad range of sexual behaviours, including the use or threat of violence to force another person to engage in a sexual activity against their will.
Sexual assault is a serious crime, commonly committed by men against women and children. Approximately one third of Australian women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetimes – 18 per cent before age 16. In most cases, the woman knows the perpetrator, with only 20 per cent of sexual assaults committed by strangers. Around half of all sexual assaults occur in the victim’s home.
A common misconception is that sexual assault is motivated by desire – on the contrary, it is about power and violence. Men are also victims of sexual assault, but less frequently. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology a woman over her lifetime is 3.5 times more likely to be sexually assaulted than a man.
Support services
Sexual assault support services provide direct services for children, young people and adults who have experienced recent or past sexual assault.
Services include:
- Crisis care responses
- Counselling
- Casework
- Group-work
- Advocacy
- A statewide after-hours telephone crisis service.
Agencies also provide community awareness, education and professional consultation services that work towards the prevention and early identification of sexual assault.
National Standards of Practice Manual for Services Against Sexual Violence
In September 2021, the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence released the National Standards of Practice Manual for Services Against Sexual Violence (Third Edition).
This edition provides guidance on the provision of services to adults, children and young people who have experienced sexual assault, and children and young people exhibiting harmful sexual behaviours.