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Sexual Assault Crisis Line

I Am Under 18

If something has happened to you, or you are worried about something that doesn’t feel right, you are not alone. What you are feeling matters, and there are people who will listen, believe, and support you.

You are not in trouble. It is okay to ask for help, and you do not have to be sure about what happened to talk to someone.

What is Child Sexual Assault?

Child sexual assault is any sexual activity involving a person under 18, where:

  • You did not want it, or did not feel able to say no
  • You were pressured, tricked, or forced
  • The other person was more than 2 years older than you, or in a position of power or trust

This can include:

  • Unwanted touching or sexual acts
  • Being asked or made to do something sexual
  • Someone showing you sexual images or messages
  • Someone taking or sharing sexual images of you
  • Being pressured to send, share, or keep sexual images or messages
  • Someone threatening to share images of you (sometimes called image-based abuse)
     

What is Grooming?

Grooming is when someone builds trust with a young person to make it easier to harm or exploit them later. It can happen:

  • In person or online
  • Over time or quite quickly

A person who is grooming might:

  • Give gifts or special attention
  • Try to become close to you or your family
  • Ask you to keep secrets
  • Slowly cross boundaries or introduce sexual topics

It can be hard to recognise grooming, especially if the person seems kind, supportive, or someone you trust.

Grooming is not your fault. The responsibility always lies with the person doing the harm.

 

Age of Consent

The age of consent is the age you can legally agree to sexual activity. In Victoria, there are laws to protect young people. If someone is below the legal age, it can be a crime for another person to have sexual contact with them, even if they said "yes". These laws apply to everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.

Under 12 Years Old:

Even if you say "yes", it is never okay for someone to:

  • Have sex with you
  • Touch you in a sexual way, or ask you to touch them
  • Do something sexual in front of you

If You Are 12 to 15 Years Old:

Even if you agree, someone more than two years older than you cannot:

  • Have sex with you
  • Touch you sexually, or ask you to touch them
  • Do something sexual in front of you

However, it is not an offence if:

  • The person honestly believed that you were 16; or
  • If there was less than a two-year age difference

If You Are 16 to 17 Years Old:

Even if you agree, someone in a position of care, trust or authority (like a teacher, youth worker, or foster carer) cannot:

  • Have sex with you
  • Touch you sexually, or ask you to touch them
  • Do something sexual in front of you.

There is an exception however, if the person believed you were over 18 years old.

For more detailed legal information, please visit Victoria Legal Aid.

 

Who Needs to Know?

You can choose to tell someone you trust, like a parent, carer, teacher, or another safe adult.

If you speak with a service like SACL, we will listen and support you.

In most situations, you can talk to us confidentially. Sometimes, if we are worried about your safety or the safety of another young person, we may need to share information to help keep people safe. 

If this happens, we will always try to:

  • Explain what needs to be shared and why
  • Involve you in the process as much as possible

Your safety is the most important thing.
 

Will My Parents Find Out?

Many young people worry about this.

Where possible, your privacy will be respected. In most situations, you can talk to us confidentially. Sometimes, if there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of another young person, services may need to involve parents, carers, or other supports to help keep people safe.

If you’re unsure, you can ask us about confidentiality before sharing anything. We will be open with you about what we can and cannot keep private.
 

Do I Have to Tell Police?

In most situations, reporting to police is your choice. Some young people decide to report, and others do not.

If you are thinking about reporting, SACL can:

  • Explain the process
  • Talk through your options
  • Support you before, during, and after

You can also get support from SACL whether or not you choose to report to police.

 

Support for Young People

There are services that specialise in supporting young people. You can reach out in a way that feels safest for you, whether it is by phone, online, or in person.

Some options include:

  • SACL (free and confidential support)
  • Youth counselling and wellbeing services
  • School wellbeing staff or a trusted adult

 

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The Royal Women’s Hospital acknowledges and pays respect to the Wurundjeri (Wer-run-djeri) people of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the Country on which our site stands and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. The Women’s is committed to improving health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, children and families and we recognise the fundamental significance of cultural traditions, beliefs, and connection to Country for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We acknowledge the importance of kinship and family structures as a cohesive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and we recognise their cultures, community connection, and self-determination as critical protective factors for wellbeing.