It is every person’s
human right to a
life free of violence
Business
Counselling
P 02 8585 0333
NSW Rape Crisis
F 02 9555 5911
1800RESPECT
1800 737 732
Sexual Assault
1800 211 028
Counselling Australia
PO Box 555, Drummoyne NSW 2047
ABN 58 023 656 939
1800 424 017
nswrapecrisis.com.au
1800respect.org.au
sexualassaultcounselling.org.au
Myths and Realities
It could never happen to me.
Anyone can experience sexual assault
or domestic violence.
She can always leave.
Grooming, children and
community attitudes
Women ask for it by the way they dress
and behave.
If you have money in your pocket does
that mean you want to be robbed?
Men experience domestic violence
at the same rate as women.
Overwhelmingly it is women who
experience such violence.
Sexual assault is about uncontrolled
lust.
It is a violent assault.
Alcohol causes domestic violence.
Most are sober when they are
violent.
Sexual assault is committed in dark
alleys by strangers.
Most victims know their attackers.
Men don’t get sexually assaulted.
Yes, they do.
Myths give sex offenders excuses.
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
in NSW
•
10,700 sexual or indecent assaults reported to NSW Police in 2013.
•
17% of sexual assaults are reported.
•
Same period < 600 convictions.
•
1% conviction rate.
•
Over 120,000 call outs for domestic violence.
•
1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault at some stage in their life.
•
For domestic violence it is 1 in 3.
Sexual Assault is any unwanted behaviour
of a sexual nature, by one or a group of people against another without consent.
Sexual assault is divided into two categories:
Sexual assault
touching or penetration of the vagina or anus with a penis,
finger, tongue or any implement, or touching or penetration of
the mouth by a penis or vagina.
Indecent assault
any other unwanted sexualised behaviour such as grabbing a
person’s breasts or penis, exposing genitals, showing a person,
who is under 18, pornography.
It is a crime to participate in sexual activity with a person under the age of 16 years.
Aggravated sexual assault indicates use of a weapon, force or threat.
Sexual assault in company is gang rape.
The Law of Consent
Consent must be given freely and voluntarily.
The person consenting must have the capacity to consent.
In Court a defendant will have to show what steps he took to ensure consent.
The jury will be directed to use the reasonable person test.
Under the old laws a woman was considered to be in a
permanent state of consent. Only when she withdrew consent
was she not consenting.
This has now changed.
Domestic Violence
•
It aims to hurt, humiliate, control and demean it is about power.
•
Includes physical, sexual, social, psychological, emotional, spiritual,
financial.
•
Do not need to be co habituating.
•
Police Courts can issue protection orders.
•
A protection order is not a criminal offence but not following the directions
of the order is.
Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Trauma
Symptoms
Reexperiencing
or intrusion
• flashbacks and nightmares
• difficulty concentrating
Avoidance
• Shock, disbelief
• depression
• disorientation
• self injury
• isolation
• suicide
• shame, guilt
• powerlessness
• anxiety, panic attacks
• dissociation
Arousal
• fear of perpetrator and/or of re assault
• exaggerated startle response
• Hypervigilance
• anger
Initial response
Do’s
Don’t
Listen to the story
Tell them what to do or take over
Let them express how they feel
Ask the ‘why’ questions
Let them cry
Get angry on their behalf
Encourage them
Assume you know how they feel
Don’t worry the story don’t add up
Accept their decisions
Important things to say…
Say….
This is heard as…
He had no right to do that to you.
I believe you.
What happened is a crime.
It was not your fault.
I will do what I can to help.
You are not alone.
Respond compassionately
Look after yourself
Assisting someone who has been sexually assaulted is difficult.
Their story can be distressing.
This can impact on you, its called vicarious trauma.
Have strategies to manage the impact.
•
family and friends, laughter and fun,
•
debrief and supervision,
•
be self aware, make sure you self care.
You are only human
24/7 telephone and online professional counselling and support is
available for anyone in Australia who has experienced sexual
assault, domestic or family violence and their non offending family
members and friends.
Clinical debrief and support for professionals assisting someone
who has experienced sexual assault, domestic or family violence.
Counselling in NSW Women’s Health Centres for adults who
experienced sexual assault in childhood.
Business
24/7 Counselling
P 02 9818 7216
F 02 9555 5911
PO Box 555, Drummoyne NSW 2047
ABN 58 023 656 939
NSW Rape Crisis
rape-dvservices.org.au
1800 424 017
1800RESPECT
1800respect.org.au
1800 737 732