Types of Sexual Assault

Sexual assault happens when a person has not agreed to the sexual behaviour, or when someone uses, pressure, coercion, manipulation, threats, or force to override another person’s choice.

Sexual assault also has specific legal definitions in Victoria, which can be helpful if you are considering reporting, or wanting to explore your legal options. You can find more information about this here.

Sexual assault is not always the same for everyone, but some examples of sexual assault can include:

• Rape: when a person intentionally sexually penetrates another person without their consent. Sexual penetration can be vaginal, anal, or oral.
• Unwanted sexual touching: any unwanted sexual touching, such as groping, fondling, kissing, rubbing, pinching, patting, or touching someone’s breasts, bottom, legs, genitals or other parts of their body. This can include both above or beneath clothing.
• Pressure, coercion or threats for sexual activity: repeatedly asking for sex after someone has said no, or using intimidation, manipulation or pressure to obtain sex. This can include pressure to engage in/witness sexual activity with others, or to push past boundaries or agreements about types of sexual activity someone has agreed to engage in. Or to engage in sex in exchange for things such as housing, food, medication, etc.
• Sexual assault within sex work: can occur if agreed conditions are broken. For example, by not paying, removing or refusing protection, pressuring or forcing additional acts, or continuing sexual activity after consent has been withdrawn.
• Coerced into sexual activity without protection: when a person is pressured, manipulated, or forced into sexual activity without protection (such as a condom), to increase the chance of pregnancy when it is not wanted (reproductive coercion).
• Drug and Alcohol Facilitated Sexual Assault (DAFSA): this occurs when alcohol or other drugs are used to make a person unable to freely consent to sexual activity. This can involve someone deliberately spiking a drink, encouraging excessive drinking, or taking advantage of a person who is intoxicated, unconscious, or otherwise impaired. If a person is unable to give free and voluntary consent due to alcohol or drugs, any sexual activity is sexual assault.
• Stealthing: is when someone intentionally removes, tampers with, or does not use a condom during sexual activity, without the other person’s knowledge or permission.
• Sexual harassment: includes sexualised comments, jokes, gestures or behaviour that make someone feel uncomfortable, humiliated, intimidated, or unsafe.
• Image-based sexual abuse: includes sharing, showing, or threatening to share intimate images or videos of someone without their consent. This includes images taken without permission, being forced to be filmed, or being made to watch pornography. It can occur in person or online. The image does not have to be “real”, and can include digitally or AI-generated images.
• Voyeurism: is watching, recording, or observing someone engaged in private or intimate activities without their consent.
• Indecent exposure: when someone deliberately exposes their genitals or private parts to another person without consent (“flashing”).
• Grooming: a pattern of behaviour used to prepare a child or young person for sexual abuse or exploitation. Grooming often involves building trust with the young person, creating secrecy, and exerting control to prevent disclosure.

If any of these behaviours have happened to you, or if you are unsure about what this means for you, please contact SACL.

You don’t have to navigate this on your own.

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