Making a Report to Police

Deciding whether to report to police is a very personal choice. You have the right to take your time, ask questions, and access support before making any decisions.

You may be thinking about what legal options are available after sexual harm. Everyone's situation is different, and it is important to remember that there is no right or wrong decision when it comes to reporting a sexual assault; just what is right for you at the time.

You do not have to decide everything straight away. You can speak with a SACL Counsellor/Advocate at any stage; whether you are considering reporting, have already reported, or decide not to.

What Does "Making a Report" Mean?

Making a report means telling police what has happened to you. In Victoria, there are guidelines that outline how police should support people who report sexual assault. If you choose to make a report, you can expect that police will:

Support you to access a CASA Counsellor/Advocate, within two hours of your disclosure (if you wish)
Give you time to rest, get medical care, and access support before making a statement
Provide you with information about your rights and options

After you report, police may:

Investigate what happened
Collect evidence
Speak with other people involved.

This does not always mean charges will be laid, or that the matter will go to court.

In Victoria, reports of sexual assault are usually handled by specialist police from the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCIT), who are trained to respond to these matters.

Reporting a Recent Sexual Assault

You can choose to report sexual assault or harm to SOCIT police. Reporting does not mean you have to go through every stage of the legal process. You can still access support and change your mind about how far you want to proceed.

If the assault happened recently, there may be options to collect forensic evidence.

Forensic Medical Examinations (FME)

A forensic medical examination may be offered if the assault occured recently, usually within a 24 to 72 hour window, depending on the nature of the assault. The purpose of the examination is to gain evidence that may assist the police in their investigations. The SOCIT officer can also arrange for a CASA worker to attend and provide confidential crisis support to you.

The examination is done by a specially trained doctor or nurse, and can:

Check and treat injuries
Collect forensic evidence
Photograph and document any injuries

It is your choice to:

Have the examination or not
Stop the examination at any time
Have a support person present

'Just in Case' (JiC) FME

You do not have to decide straight away if you want to report to police. If the assault happened recently, you may be able to have an FME to collect evidence just in case you choose to report later.

This means:

Evidence can be collected and safely stored for up to 6 months
You can take time to decide what feels right for you

The 'Just in Case' (JiC) FME is only available at Monash Medical Centre during business hours, 7 days a week.

If you are thinking about this option, you can call SACL for further information, or our emergency line if after hours or on weekends and public holidays.

Click here for more information regarding the Forensic Medical Examination.

Reporting a Historical Sexual Assault

You can also report sexual harm even if it happened a long time ago. In Australia, there is no 'statute of limitations', for sexual assault, meaning there is no time limit for reporting.

In historical cases, a FME is not usually available, as evidence such as injuries or biological samples may no longer exist. However, you can still choose to make a report and share your experience.