Key referrals
Throughout this Guide we have mentioned the importance of referral to specialist or other services that may address a victim and survivor’s needs
Making a referral can mean you can make the referral with or for the victim and survivor. It is important to ensure you are aware of the services in your local geographic area, and that you know the:
- specialist service providers that may support workers and victims and survivors
- services that provide a response to the effects of child sexual abuse, such as mental health, alcohol and other drug and housing organisations
- interagency networks that you need to attend to ensure interagency collaboration and an effective integrated response that promotes healing and recovery.
The following resources and referrals are current as of the publication of this Guide. When compiling your directory of services, remember workers and services change and links can break over time. Refer to the National Office for Child Safety website for updated information.
Connecting victims and survivors with support services
It is important that you are aware of the range of referral options for victims and survivors to access crisis and therapeutic support services and are able to provide onward referral to these services in a timely manner.
Depending on a client's geographic location and accessibility needs, services may be available in a variety of modes, including:
- face-to-face
- telephone
- online chat
- videoconferencing.
Not all of these options will be appropriate or accessible for everyone so, where possible, you should discuss with the client their preferences and any accessibility issues they may have. To assist you in making a referral, the next section provides an overview of key national and state and territory support services, including services for specific population groups.
Useful helplines and support organisations
Bravehearts
- Specialist child sexual assault and exploitation counselling and support services.
- Offers a telephone information and support service.
1800 272 831
Mon to Fri, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm AEST
Blue Knot Helpline and Redress Support Service
- Supports adult survivors of childhood trauma and abuse, parents, partners, family and friends, as well as the professionals who work with them.
- Offers telephone counselling. Webchat available for people seeking information, education or support around referrals.
1300 657 380
9 am to 5 pm AEST/AEDT, 7 days a week including public holidays
1800RESPECT
- Confidential information, counselling and support in cases of sexual assault, domestic violence or abuse.
- Offers telephone or online chat.
- Offers services and resources to workers.
- Please note this is not a specialist child sexual abuse service.
1800 737 732
24 hours, 7 days a week
Full Stop Australia
- Confidential, trauma-specialist counselling for people of all genders who are impacted by violence and abuse, as well as their friends, colleagues and family members.
- Offers telephone or online chat. Also face-to-face counselling in NSW only.
- Offers the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline.
- Please note this is not a specialist child sexual abuse service.
1800 385 578 or 1800 424 017 (NSW Sexual Violence Helpline)
24 hours, 7 days a week
Visit the Full Stop Australia website
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service
- Redress Support Services (RSS) are specialist, trauma-informed, culturally safe, survivor-centred services for people impacted by institutional child sexual abuse.
- National RSS offer online and telephone support services. Face-to-face services are available in some locations, specified on the relevant state or territory page.
1800 737 377
Mon to Fri, 8 am to 5 pm AEDT
Visit the National Redress website
National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV)
- The peak body for specialist organisations who provide prevention and response services to people who are at risk of or experience sexual violence in Australia.
- Provides a state and territory support directory of services, including emergency and crisis care, information and advocacy, and counselling and support.
Visit the NASASV support directory of services
knowmore
- Free legal advice and support to survivors of child sexual abuse.
- Services include legal advice and assistance, support services, financial counselling, and culturally safe supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
1800 605 762
Mon to Fri, 9 am to 5 pm AEST
Youth Law Australia
- Free, confidential legal information and help for young people aged under 25 (and their advocates), provided through an online service.
1800 950 570
(SA, NSW, Tas, Qld, NT, ACT only)
(02) 9067 6510
(Vic, WA) Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 5 pm (AEST)
Visit the Youth Law Australia website
Online service available 24 hours a day.
A comprehensive list of national, state and territory support services and groups is available on the Get support page.
Services for specific population groups
Kids Helpline
- Telephone, email and web counselling for children and young people.
1800 55 1800
24 hours, 7 days a week
Relationships Australia
- Support groups and counselling on relationships, and for abusive and abused partners.
Mensline Australia
- Supports men who are dealing with family and relationship difficulties.
1300 78 99 78
24 hours, 7 days a week
Visit the Mensline Australia website
SAMSN
- Survivors & Mates Support Network (SAMSN) works with male survivors of child sexual abuse to provide ongoing support services, and facilitates support groups and workshops for men, their families, and supporters.
1800 472 676
Mon to Fri, 9 am to 5 pm AEST/ AEDT
The Healing Foundation
- A national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that provides a platform to amplify the voices and lived experience of Stolen Generations survivors and their families.
Visit the Healing Foundation website
Please note the Healing Foundation is not a crisis support or counselling service.
13YARN
- Free 24/7 crisis support line that is led, co-designed, developed and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
13 92 76
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Indigenous language interpreting
- 2M Language Services provide interpreting services to assist communities in accessing essential public services. They can provide onsite interpreting, telephone interpreting and video remote interpreting.
- Aboriginal Interpreter Service (Northern Territory)
- Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service (South Australia)
- Aboriginal Interpreting (Western Australia)
2M Language Services - (02) 73367 8722
Aboriginal Interpreter Service (NT)
Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service (SA) - 1800 280 203
Translating and Interpreting Service
- Free phone service to gain access to an interpreter in your own language.
131 450
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
National Disability Abuse and Neglect Hotline
- A telephone hotline for reporting abuse and neglect of people with disability.
1800 880 052 / TIS: 131 450 / NRS: 1800 555 677
9 am to 9 pm Mon to Fri and 10 am to 4 pm Sat to Sun and public holidays AEST/AEDT
National Relay Service
- For people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, or have speech disability or difficulty using the phone.
Voice relay: 1300 555 727 / TTY: 133 677 / SMS relay: 0423 677 767
Visit the About the NRS webpage on the accesshub website
The National Relay Service also offer video relay services for Auslan users.
Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline
- Telephone trauma counselling for anyone from the LGBTQIA+ community who has recently or in the past experienced sexual, domestic or family violence.
- Support for family members, friends and supporters, or professionals who are impacted by violence against the LGBTQIA+ community.
1800 497 212
24 hours, 7 days a week
Visit the Rainbow Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Helpline page on the fullstop website
QLife
- QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
1800 184 527 and webchat
3pm to midnight (local time), 7 days
For additional services please see the Qlife resources directory.
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN)
- Free telephone counselling and face-to-face by appointment counselling in Sydney and Melbourne offices.
1800 008 774
Mon to Fri, 9:30 am to 5:00 pm AEST/AEDT, or support@clan.org.au