Responding to sexual assault: Contact agencies
The following agencies assist a victim at different stages. It is important to get consent from a victim (where possible) before contacting these agencies for help. It is important to give a victim control over decision-making as this will assist them in their recovery.
- Sexual assault services
- NSW Police
- Decision-making and guardianship
- Advocacy, information and referral
- Legal and court support
- Complaints handling
Sexual assault services
In the event of a sexual assault, contacting the local sexual assault service – with the victims consent – is strongly recommended. They can:
- provide specialist crisis and ongoing counselling
- discuss with the victim the option of going to the police and conduct forensic examinations if they chose to
- provide court support if needed.
Webpage: NSW Health: List of sexual assault services
NSW Police
The role of the police is to conduct criminal investigations based on evidence. Physical evidence can be found on the body of a victim or an offender, on clothing, or on bedding and where an assault took place.
What to expect when the police come:
- Two police officers who will determine the situation is urgent and whether specialist response is needed.
- The officers may ask you to give them in writing what the victim has verbally reported about the assault.
- The police may decide that the act was not criminal in nature. Nonetheless, an alleged assault can be dealt with through organisational internal processes (e.g. following the process outlined in a staff code of conduct if a staff member is implicated).
Service providers should contact with the local Crime Manager to find out who to contact for advice on a potential case.
Webpage: NSW Police: List of Local Area Commands
Decision-making and guardianship
Guardianship Tribunal
If a victim does not have the capacity consent to a forensic examination, the Guardianship Tribunal must be contacted to seek permission. The tribunal gives sexual assault cases high priority.
Website: www.gt.nsw.gov.au
Advocacy, information and referral
National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline
The National Disability Abuse and Neglect is a free telephone service that provides support and referral to people with disability who have experienced abuse and neglect. The service can also refer for investigation reports of abuse and neglect that have occurred within government-funded disability services.
Website: www.disabilityhotline.org
Hotline: phone 1800 880 052, TTY 1800 301 130
Disability advocacy services
Disability advocacy services can help people with disability to understand and exercise their rights and can help people with disability to advocate for themselves.
Webpage: List of disability advocacy agencies
The Aged Care Rights Service (TARS)
TARS is a community legal centre that provides advocacy for residents of Commonwealth-funded aged-care hostels and nursing homes in New South Wales.
Website: www.tars.com.au
Legal and court support
Intellectual Disability Rights Service (IDRS)
IDRS is a community legal centre that ensures people with an intellectual disability are given their rights. IDRS provides free legal advice and has educational material on the rights of people with intellectual disability.
Website: www.idrs.org.au
Criminal Justice Support Network (CJSN)
IDRS coordinates this network of volunteers to support people with intellectual disability in contact with the criminal justice system. A support worker is allocated to a person with intellectual disability who needs help at police interviews, courts and related legal appointments whether they are a victim, witness, suspect or defendant.
CJSN has a 24-hour NSW-wide phone service for people with intellectual disability and their carers.
Webpage: Criminal Justice Support Network
24-hour phone service: 1300 665 908
Witness Assistance Service
The Witness Assistance Service is part of the NSW Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and aims to assist victims of crime and other prosecution witnesses involved in DPP prosecutions. The service can provide information and referral to counselling and support services, court preparation and court support.
Webpage: Witness Assistance Service
Victims Services
Victims Services provides counselling, a 24-hour victims support line, compensation and referral to other agencies.
Website: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/vs
Victims Support Line: Sydney metro 02 8688 5400, outside Sydney 1800 633 063, TTY 02 8688 5575
Complaints handling
NSW Ombudsman
The Community Services Division of the NSW Ombudman's office handles complaints about disability accommodation services funded by the NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care.
Webpage: NSW Ombudsman: Complaints – Community serivces
The Ombudsman's office also coordinates the Official Community Visitors Program. Community visitors visit disability accommodation services across the state and provide advice to the Ombudsman and Minister for Community Services the about how to improve residents' quality of care. Community visitors may visit on request.
Webpage: NSW Ombudsman: Official Community Visitors Program
Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme
The Aged Care Complaints Investigation Scheme is available to anyone who wishes to provide information or make a complaint about an Australian Government subsidised aged-care service that may need to be investigated.