Support and wellbeing

If you or someone you know needs support, please see below a list of free support services. These services can provide support for people who have experienced child sexual abuse at school and other types of abuse, their support people and affected community members.

Free support services

24-hour sexual assault and domestic violence support.
- Phone: 1800 737 732
- Text: 0458 737 732
- Website: 1800 RESPECT
24-hour Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support.
- Phone: 13 92 76
- Website: 13YARN
24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention.
- Phone: 13 11 14
- Text: 0477 131 114
- Website: Lifeline
24-hour mental health support across Australia.
- Phone: 1300 224 636
- Text: 0477 131 114
- Website: Beyond Blue
Rainbow Door offers LGBTIQA+ mental health and wellbeing support.
- Phone: 1800 729 367
- Text: 0480 017 246
- Website: Rainbow Door
24-hour support, advocacy and crisis responses for people who have experienced sexual violence.
- Phone: 1800 806 292
- Website: Sexual Assault Crisis Line
Specialist sexual assault services provide free support for people of all ages and genders who live in Victoria.
To find your local service: Find a specialist sexual assault service in Victoria.
If you have experienced a recent sexual assault or need after-hours help, please call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line(opens in a new window) on 1800 806 292. Calls to this number during office hours will divert to your local sexual assault service.
24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention.
- Phone: 1300 659 467
- Website: Suicide Call Back Service
Australia’s leading organisation for adult male survivors of child sexual abuse and their supporters.
- Phone: 1800 472 676
- Website: SAMSN
Support for people who have experiences of complex trauma from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
- Phone: 1300 657 380
- Website: Blue Knot(opens in a new window)
Support for survivors, families and communities of institutional abuse. Available from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.
- Phone: 1300 12 44 33
- Email: hello@survivors.org.au
- Website: National Survivors Foundation
The National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service is available 24 hours, seven days a week, providing telephone counselling with trauma specialist counsellors.
- Phone: 1800 385 578
- Website: Full Stop Australia

Other support options

RAV provides professional counselling services to improve your wellbeing, by reducing distress and improving your relationships. You can receive support for difficulties and challenges related to relationships, separation, parenting, life changes, grief, loss, and more.
RAV offers counselling services for individuals, couples, children, young people, and families. RAV follows a means tested fee structure where costs are based on your individual income.
To find your local service, visit the Relationships Australia Victoria website.

In case of an emergency

In case of an emergency, please call Triple Zero (000).

For example:

If someone is seriously injured or in need of urgent medical help
If your life or property is being threatened
If you have just witnessed a serious accident or crime.

For more information visit the Triple Zero website.

Making a report

Victoria Police

If you would like to report historical child sexual abuse involving an institution to Victoria Police, please contact the Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team (formerly SANO Taskforce).

Phone: 1800 110 007
Email: sanotaskforce@police.vic.gov.au
Website: Report child abuse

Victoria Department of Education

The Department of Education has a dedicated team, the Restorative Engagement and Support team (REST) to support former students who experienced child sexual abuse by an adult working in a Victorian Government school, as well as their family members, loved ones, and supporters. The team can help you:

get your school records
understand how to report the abuse to Victoria Police
explore specialist sexual assault services in your local area
access funding for counselling with a private practitioner
decide if an acknowledgement or apology from the department or school would be helpful for you
understand possible pathways for redress or compensation
connect with other relevant services if needed.

They can also listen to your experience and make sure the department keeps a record of what happened. Knowing what happened in the past, and understanding the impact, can help the department and schools do better now and in the future.

Contact the Restorative Engagement and Support team:

Phone: 03 9057 4500
Email: rest@education.vic.gov.au
Website: Victim-survivor support for former students | vic.gov.au

Updated 15 December 2025