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Support services for victim-survivors of child sexual abuse

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Specialist support services and helplines offer support for children and adults who have been victims of sexual abuse. They can also provide advice about support options for family members. Each service may do this differently. You can contact them to find out more.

Community counselling and emotional support services

Specialist Sexual Assault Services

Free, local, specialist counselling support and advocacy services for people who have experienced sexual assault at any time during their life.

You can find your local specialist sexual assault service using this interactive map: Sexual Assault Services Victoria website

After hours sexual assault service phonelines are directed to the Sexual Assault Crisis Line below.

Sexual Assault Crisis Line

A statewide, after-hours, phone crisis counselling service for anyone who has experienced past or recent sexual assault.

It is free for all victim-survivors, regardless of gender, sexuality, Medicare status, ability or background.

Blue Knot Foundation

Counselling, referrals, and resources for adult victim-survivors of childhood trauma and abuse, as well as their support people.

Lifeline (24/7 Crisis Line)

Support for anyone across Australia experiencing a personal crisis, emotional distress, or thinking about suicide.

Kids Helpline

Counselling services for children and young people aged 5 to 25. They offer both phone and online services.

Culturally safe and inclusive support

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13 YARN

National support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are feeling worried or no good. 13YARN is run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and has Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporters to yarn to.

Yarning SafeNStrong (24/7)

Counselling service supporting Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, offering culturally safe mental health and wellbeing support.

SAMSN (Survivors & Mates Support Network)

SAMSN is Australia’s leading organisation for male survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters. SAMSN provides a range of free supports including a peer support phone line and many resources that prioritise the wellbeing of survivors and their supporters.

MensLine Australia (24/7)

Phone and online counselling support service for men, including those dealing with trauma or abuse.

Rainbow Door

A free helpline and specialist support service for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families. Rainbow Door phone line is open 10am - 5pm, every day, offering support, advice, information and referrals.

QLife

A free LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral service, providing phone counselling and web chat, open 3pm–midnight, every day.

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Victims of Crime provides information about supports available to victims of crime, including:

Website: victimsofcrime.vic.gov.au

Free, trauma-informed legal advice for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse.

Counselling assistance payments through the Department of Education

Current or former students (and immediate family members) of a Victorian government school who report they have been abused by an adult working in that school can apply to the Department of Education for financial support for up to 20 counselling sessions with a practitioner of their choice.

For more information about the counselling assistance payments, visit Counselling support for victim-survivors.

Counselling and supports within other redress schemes

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The National Redress Scheme provides support to people who experienced institutional child sexual abuse before 1 July 2018. This support includes access to counselling, a direct personal response and a redress payment.

For information about the scheme, visit National Redress Scheme.

The Victims of Crime Financial Assistance Scheme provides financial assistance to victims to help them recover from violent crimes, including sexual abuse. It helps with costs that arise from being a victim of a violent crime, which may include counselling.

For information about the scheme, visit Financial Assistance Scheme.

Updated 27 March 2026

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