Sexual Assault / Abuse Counselling Service 
About this Service
Past Sexual Assault Counselling
This service provides counselling to any person, male or female, aged 13 years and over who has experienced sexual assault/abuse (any unwanted sexual contact or behaviour).
This service enables a person to:
- A free, confidential, safe place.
- Access to individual counselling – long or short term depending on the needs of the client
- Access to educational and therapeutic groups
- Assistance with preparation and support for Court Trials including Victim Impact Statements
- Police liaison, advocacy and other agency referrals.
- Assistance to apply for Criminal Injuries Compensation.
- Access counselling support for friends and family of people who have been Sexually Assaulted / Abused.
- The service operates Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm in Bunbury and in Busselton on Wednesdays from 9am to 5pm.
Acute Crisis Service
Waratah provides a free 24 hour, 7 day rape crisis service for males and females over 13 years of age who have experienced a sexual assault in the past 2 weeks.
After hours this service is accessed through:
- CRISIS CARE 1800 199 008
- POLICE BUNBURY 131 444
- BUNBURY REGIONAL HOSPITAL 97221000
- Access to the crisis counselling and support
- Access to a medical forensic evidence collection service, which is performed by a Doctor at the Bunbury Regional Hospital. This evidence can be used in court if the matter is reported to police.
- Information on appropriate referral services
- Advocacy and support when accessing services
- Information to enable clients to make informed choices
- Follow up counselling and support - offered on a long or short term basis depending on the needs of each individual person
- Assistance with reporting to the police if client chooses
Will Waratah report to the Police?
If you are over 16 years of age and not at ongoing risk, it is up to you if you would like to report the sexual assault or abuse to the police. Waratah is not part of the police and will support your decision. It’s important to remember that only you can make this decision. If you are unsure if you would like to report to the police the forensic evidence collected by the doctor can be stored for 3 months to give you time to make a clear and informed decision. Should you decide to report to the police Waratah can support you to do this.
What is consent?
Consent to sexual activity is when a person freely agrees to any sexual activities without pressure, force or being tricked.
In Western Australia, the legal age for males and females to consent to sexual activity is 16 years. The law says that if you have sex with someone who is under 16 years old it is a crime.
The law also says that it is illegal to have a sexual relationship with people under 18 years if you have a relationship of authority with them, such as a teacher or employer.
If someone is not able to give consent to sex, regardless of their age, the law says it is a crime. People who cannot give consent regardless of their age include:
- a person who is unconscious, asleep or intoxicated.
- a person with a psychological or physical condition that impacts on their ability to understand what they are consenting to.
What is Sexual Assault & Sexual Abuse?
What is Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault is ANY unwanted sexual act or behaviour, which a person did not consent to or was not able to consent to. Examples of sexual assault include:
- Sexual harassment (e.g. sexual comments, dirty jokes, wolf whistling)
- Unwanted sexual touching (e.g. kissing, hugging, groping)
- Exposing themselves to you
- Making you watch a sexual act, such as pornographic material (including emails & text messaging)
- Being forced to masturbate
- Being forced to give or receive oral sex
- Being forced to perform any sexual act
It is when someone in authority or higher power takes advantage of you by involving you in sexual activity. Any of the examples in the section on sexual assault can be included as sexual abuse. Examples of power imbalance in sexual abuse can occur between:
- A child and adult
- A child and an older child
- A patient and a doctor
- Student and teacher
- Employee and employer
What is Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is an umbrella term that includes sexual assault and/or sexual abuse. The term "sexual violence" reminds us that most sexual crimes are not about sexual gratification - they are about power and control. The term, sexual violence, will be used in this website when talking about sexual assault and sexual abuse.
What are the Effects?
Sexual violence can be a humiliating, degrading and terrifying experience. It can have short and long term effects, but can also affect people in many different ways.
Some of the feelings that people may experience are:
- numb
- sick
- dirty
- scared for no reason
- worthless
- sad
- paranoid
- angry
- tired all the time
- unsafe
- shock
Talking to someone about the experience can help a person to cope with these feelings and to heal.
What are the Effects on Family and Friends?
Sexual violence can not only affect the person who experienced it, but also their family and friends.
Some of the feelings they may have include:
- grief
- shock
- frustration
- confusion
- guilt
- wanting revenge
- anger
- wanting to control the situation
Regardless of when the person was sexually assaulted or sexually abused, it is important for family and friends to provide support. They can help by:
- believing the person
- listening to the person
- encouraging them to talk about their feelings if they want to
- telling them its not their fault
- supporting them to feel safe
- not judging the person
- asking them what they want
It is also important that family and friends seek support and help to talk about their own feelings.
Why Does Sexual Violence Happen?
Sexual violence is not about sex. The majority of sexual assaults and sexual abuse are committed by offenders who want to make themselves feel powerful at the expense of another person.
They are usually planned attacks by people we know.
Sexual assault or sexual abuse does NOT happen because of the dress or behaviour of the victim.
Who Does it Happen to?
Sexual violence can happen to any woman, man and child, regardless of race or culture.
The recent Personal Safety Survey (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2005) found that one in six Australian women over the age of 16yrs had experienced sexual assault.
Who Commits Sexual Violence?
Sexual violence is committed by both men and women. However, the majority of offenders are well-respected and trusted males who have a family and job.
Having been sexually abused as a child or having a mental illness does NOT make people more likely to become abusers.
Facts about Sexual Assault and Abuse
| Myth | Fact |
| Women enjoy being sexually assaulted |
Any sexual violence is a frightening and humiliating experience during which the person has no control over what happens. |
Men who are assaulted will become or are homosexual |
Both homosexual and heterosexual men can be assaulted |
It is not possible for a man to sexually assault a woman |
When someone is in fear they will submit to what is being forced upon them |
If the person did not scream or fight, it could not have been a sexual assault |
Not screaming or shouting is a common response – people become paralysed with fear |
All sexual assaults occur at night in isolated places |
Assaults can occur any time and most occur at home |
Men who assault men are homosexual |
Men who assault are often heterosexual and in a relationship with a women at the time |
It is a man’s right to have sex with his partner/wife anytime |
Forcing a partner/wife to have sex is assault under the law |
Sexual Assault or abuse by strangers is common |
The majority of people assaulted know their assailant |
Men sexually assault when frustrated or so excited they cannot control themselves |
Most assaults are premeditated and do not involve a loss of control by the assailant |
People effected by alcohol or drugs are asking to be sexually assaulted |
People under the influence of drugs or alcohol cannot legally give consent to sex |
Sexual abuse of a child or young person occurs within a loving relationship |
Sexual abuse of a child or young person IS NOT a “loving relationship” as abuse can have longstanding and harmful physical and emotional effects |
Men cannot be sexually assaulted as they can defend themselves |
Men are sexually assaulted regardless of strength or size. Both men and women are vulnerable to assault. |
Women provoke sexual assault by the way they dress or act |
No woman asks or deserves to be sexually assaulted – assailants are fully responsible for their actions |
Impacts of Sexual Assault
There is a range of responses a person may have to a sexual assault. Some reactions last a few days to a few weeks but others can endure far longer. These include–
- Numbness and disbelief. Some people can appear calm and rational, others can appear extremely anxious, fearful and disorientated.
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, nausea, stomach aches, loss of appetite, sleeplessness
- Emotional reactions such as shame guilt, anger, rage, fear
- Feelings of tiredness and being run down
- Feelings of being dirty
- Feeling responsible for the assault
- Feeling unsafe when alone
- Feelings of isolation and loneliness
- Avoidance of sex
- Sense of loss of control
- Flashbacks during the day or night or during sex
- Recurrent nightmares
People who have experienced an assault need to give themselves time to recover and accept that their feelings and emotions are likely to change from one day to the next. Each person responds to and comes to terms with the experience at individual rates and in individual ways, depending on age, the circumstances of the assault, their coping strategies, and the response of those from whom they seek support.
Impact of Sexual Abuse
The impact of sexual abuse on a child or young person can vary. Short and long term effects can include-
- A loss of sense of self. This happens when the abuse occurred during the important formative years when the child or young person is developing beliefs about him or her self and who they are in the world.
- A sense of being different from others or that there is something wrong with them.
- Loss of sense of trust
- Sense of powerlessness
- Low self esteem
- Emotional reactions such as guilt, shame, anger, fear, rage, sadness, grief, anxiety.
- Confusion and disturbance. Many people do not clearly remember being abused but have feelings or thoughts or symptoms.
- Flashbacks during the day or night or during sex
- Intrusive thoughts and memories
- Nightmares or bad dreams
- Depression and Suicidal thoughts
- Difficulty with giving or receiving affection
- Discomfort or numbness during sex or avoidance of sex
- Unsure of their sexual rights
- Confusion about their sexuality
- Believing that their only value is sexual
- Feeling ‘crazy’, not heard or depressed within the family (particularly if the perpetrator is a family member).
- Substance abuse – drugs, alcohol or tranquillisers
- Eating disorders – compulsive eating and obesity, bulimia or anorexia nervosa
- Physical symptoms such as headaches sleep disturbance, nausea, chest pain.
Education and Training
Education talks are given at High Schools throughout the South West - from Harvey through to Northcliffe.
Waratah provides education to all year 10 students in the Southwest Region. This is to increase:
- awareness of high school students to the issues of sexual assault/abuse,
- knowledge of what the service can provide.
- Promote Protective Behaviours
Waratah provides education in the South West Region for Community organisations and professionals. This is to increase:
- The skills of workers in dealing effectively with sexual assault.
- Community awareness of sexual assault / abuse and associated issues
- The number of people who are aware of the service.
- Promote Protective Behaviours
IF YOU WOULD LIKE WARATAH TO PROVIDE TRAINING OR TALKS
Please contact the Waratah office on (08) 9791 2884
