What to do if you have been raped

Home: Survivors: Information on Rape: Women and rape

• Try to get to a safe place. If you feel you are still in danger, call the police, phone: 000 city and country.
• Contact a friend or someone in your family whom you can trust. It's best to have someone with you for support if you go to the hospital or the police.
• Contact the police as soon as possible after the rape, if you want them to take action.
• Ring and/or go to a hospital or sexual assault centre (or local hospital in country areas where there is no sexual assault centre).
• It is best not to wash, shower, have a bath or change your clothes before seeking help. You may destroy evidence which could be used if you decide later to report the matter to police.
• Contact SACL on telephone number: 1800 806 292.

Centres against sexual assault

(For your nearest Centre Against Sexual Assault see the CASA website.)

Anyone who has been raped can go to a centre against sexual assault (CASA), whether the incident is recent or happened some time ago. You can go directly to a CASA or ring and speak to a counsellor over the telephone. You do not have to prove you've been raped or make a report to the police to use the service.

Each CASA will provide or refer you for medical attention, counselling, legal information and support throughout the court process and afterwards. Some CASAs run groups for women who have been sexually assaulted and provide educational sessions to the community.

All services are free and confidential.

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The Police

If the police are called, they should inform you of your options and ask you for a short account of what has happened. If you wish, they will then take you to a CASA.

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Medical attention

Medical care after a sexual assault is very Important. You may receive medical care through a CASA, any doctor, community health centre or hospital. If you don't go to a CASA you may wish the treating doctor to contact one for information.

You should receive care for any physical damage, be tested for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. (Remember there's a "morning after" pill that can prevent pregnancy.)

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How might you feel if you have been raped?

Rape is a humiliating, degrading and often terrifying experience. Even if you don't have bruises or scars you may still have been badly hurt physically, psychologically or emotionally. You may experience a range of emotions and reactions. There is no typical way to feel, but it can be helpful to know about some of the feelings other women have after being raped. Not all women experience emotional trauma after rape, but many do.

Women's reactions to rape vary. You may:

• Feel numb, dirty and/or afraid afterwards.
• Blame yourself.
• Feel outraged at the violation of your body.
• Be very angry.
• Not know how you feel or have a lot of confused emotions.
• Cry a lot.
• Want to forget all about the rape or find that it is too hard to talk about at first.
• Have intense feelings of dislike or hatred for the man who raped you or for men generally, and even for yourself.
• Not be able to get the rape out of your mind, have trouble sleeping and have nightmares.
• Feel too afraid or ashamed to go out.
• Make a point of going out to prove to yourself that you can.
• Have trouble eating or feel sick.
• Not want to have sex or be touched even by people you are close to, or you may feel a great need for physical contact and comfort.

Over time, if the feelings continue, you may think that there is something really wrong with you and be afraid you are going crazy. You may feel very alone. People may try to tell you how you should feel and what you should do, or that "you should have gotten over it by now". This can make you feel worse.

The feelings you have may take a while to change. It helps a lot if you have someone sympathetic to talk to about what happened to you and what you are feeling. Friends or family members, particularly women whom you can trust and talk to, may be all the help you need. If you don't have anyone close to you to talk to, or if their reactions make things harder for you, you can ring or go to a CASA for counselling and support.

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How are other people likely to react?

People are starting to understand how distressing rape is. But many still do not.

Some people may not believe you, or pretend it hasn't happened or try to make you do something you do not want to do. They may also be embarrassed, confused, upset and angry themselves, so they cannot be as understanding or supportive as you would like.

Try to remember that however others react and whatever you may be feeling at the time, you are the victim of a serious crime. You have every right to be given all the care you need and to be treated with consideration and respect.

IT IS THE RAPIST WHO IS AT FAULT. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME IN ANY WAY.

Talking to someone who does understand what you are feeling is often very helpful. Contact a CASA. The counsellor/advocates who work there are experienced in helping people who have been raped.

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Disclaimer Copyright Updated: 25 Sep 2009