Cairns Sexual Assault Service

PDF of brochure
To read or print PDF Full Text, a pdf reader like Adobe Reader must be installed on the computer.

Sexual Assault Service

• Counselling
• Crisis Support
• Outreach
• Education

What is sexual assault?

• An act of violence and a crime. It is about the use of power and control.
• Any unwanted sexual attention that makes a person feel uncomfortable or scared.
• A sexual act a person has not agreed to or not able to agree to.
  
  If you have experienced sexual assault at anytime in your life you are not to blame. Sexual Assault is never your fault.

What we are about

Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) Cairns Sexual Assault Service offers the following free, professional and confidential service to ALL women, over the age of 15 years, who have been sexually assaulted recently or in the past.

24 hour Crisis Support
Telephone (07) 4031 3590

• Support, Information and referral
• Support during police and legal processes
• Medical care
• Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Counselling

Counselling
Telephone (07) 4031 3590

• Face to face
• Telephone counselling
• Outreach services (Tully to Mossman)
• Therapeutic groups
• Information and referral
• Information and support for: parents/carers, spouse, family, friends of women who have been sexually assaulted and raped.

Education

• Community education
• Training and resourcing for other workers who have contact with women who have been sexually assaulted

Myth: Women “cry rape”
Fact: Queensland Police statistics reveal that very few women make false reports of sexual assault. Some women simply withdraw their statements due to fear of revenge and the unfamiliar processes of the legal system

Myth: Women can avoid being raped by dressing sensibly and not going out alone at night
Fact: Over 50% of rapes occur either in the offender’s home or in the victim’s home. There is no causal link between women’s clothing and social behaviour and crimes of violence

Myth: Rape is a sexual act
Fact: Rape is an act of power, hostility and aggression resulting in severe humiliation and control of the victim

Contacts

Sexual Assault After Hours Crisis Line - 1800010120

Domestic Violence Telephone Service - 1800811811

North Qld Women’s Legal Service - 1800244504

Child Safety After Hours Service - 1800177135

Cairns Base Hospital Emergency Dept - 4050 6304

Kids Helpline - 1800551800

FPQ Cairns Sexual Assault Service is funded by Queensland Health and the Department of Communities.

Disclaimer

Family Planning Queensland (FPQ) has taken every care to ensure that the information contained in this publication is accurate and up-to-date at the time of being published. As information and knowledge is constantly changing, readers are strongly advised to confirm that the information complies with present research, legislation and policy guidelines. FPQ accepts no responsibility for difficulties that may arise as a result of an individual acting on the advice and recommendations it contains.