RAPE COMPENSATION

IF YOU HAVE SUFFERED AN INJURY THAT IS THE RESULT OF A CRIMINAL ACT,  YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION

Our referral service is independent and completely FREE.

Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual act. This includes a range of unwanted or forced sexual behaviours including rape.

SEXUAL ASSAULT IS A CRIME.

It is an act of violence. It is not about love or affection.

Sexual Assault and/or rape include when someone:

Forces you to participate in, or watch pornography.

Forces, manipulates or coerces you into having sexual intercourse.

Shows you any unwanted sexual attention that makes you fell uncomfortable or scared.

Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted, unwelcome or uninvited sexual behaviours, which is or might be offensive, humiliating, intimidating or embarrassing. Sexual harassment takes many forms, including wolf whistles, leering, sexual innuendo, comments or other unwanted sexual attention.

Rape/sexual assault is defined as penetration of the vagina or anus with the penis, other body part or foreign object without consent. It also includes forced oral sex.

Date/Acquaintance Rape Date rape is when a person you are dating sexually assaults you. You may be in an ongoing relationship, or it may be someone you have dated only once or twice.

Acquaintance rape is when a friend or someone you have met, but don't know very well sexually assaults you.

Incest is sexual assault by a family member. This may be a parent, sibling, grandparent, stepparent, uncle or any other family member.

Child Sexual Assault is any act of a sexual nature towards a child by someone older than the child or in a position of power.

Incest is sexual assault by a family member: This may be a parent, sibling, grandparent, step-parent, uncle or any other family member.

Sexual assault occurs when someone commits a sexual act with or towards another person without his or her consent.

Consenting to any sexual act depends on a person's ability to understand what the sexual act is, the implications of the sexual behaviour; and on their ability to make an informed choice, without force, manipulation or coercion, about whether or not they want the sexual act to occur.

A person's ability to consent regardless of the relationship, is dependent on a number of factors including their level of cognitive ability and whether they are under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or prescribed medication.

Sometimes people agree to a sexual act because they are frightened - this is not consent.

Children do not have the ability to consent to any sexual act, as they do not understand the implications of a sexual relationship.

Sexual assault of children is damaging; the effects of being sexually assaulted can last a lifetime.

There are many myths surrounding sexual assault. These myths serve to deny the reality of sexual assault, diminish the effects of sexual assault, blame the victims, and protect the perpetrator by implying that they are not responsible for their abusive actions or behaviours.

Facts about Sexual Assault

Perpetrators are usually male and most often someone that the victim knew and thought they could trust.

Victims are mostly women and children.

Approximately 50% of sexual assaults occur in the victim or perpetrator's home.

There may have been one or many assaults, there may have been one perpetrator or multiple perpetrators.

The assaults may have taken place over a long period of time.

When incest occurs within a family, often there is more than one child who is a victim of sexual assault.

Perpetrators of sexual assault use power, force and manipulation to attempt to control the body, senses and emotions of their victims.

38% of girls and 9% of boys will experience sexual assault by the time they are 18.

Sexual Assault is an underreported crime.

Many victims are likely to remain silent.

Approximately one in ten rapes are reported to the Police.

98% of allegations of child sexual assault are found to be true.

Children are often fearful of disclosing what is happening to them.

Sexual assault can happen to anyone regardless of their age, ethnicity, religion, sexual preference or socio-economic background.

If you would like initial obligation-FREE legal advice as to whether you might have a claim for compensation, please complete the contact form.

This is an independent referral service. The solicitors that we refer to have extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with criminal injuries claims. They can in some cases offer their services on a "No Win No Fee" basis.

* IMPORTANT NOTICE:  The information contained in this website is not intended to be an advertisement for personal injury legal services in NSW and QLD.. There are laws which prohibit advertising of personal injury legal services in these States. Where a case may involve a personal injury compensation claim in NSW or QLD, our referral service WILL NOT be able to assist you i.e we are not allowed to refer you to a solicitor. We regret that we are unable to assist NSW and QLD citizens in such circumstances- but that is the law.

LINKS:

Australian Centre for the Study of Sexual Assault

Australian Government Office for Women

National Campaign for the Elimination of Violence Against Women