If you have been affected by sexual violence, there are a wide range of supports available to you.

These include local and national support service providers, and Arch – a safe place to go for information and support if you are affected by sexual harm as a result of sexual violence.

Key points:

• If you or someone you know is experiencing family or sexual violence and need urgent assistance, call police on Triple Zero (000).
• If you need crisis counselling – call the Sexual Assault Crisis Line on 1800 697 877.
• To report a non-urgent incident of family or sexual violence – call the Tasmania Police Assistance Line on 131 444 or attend your local police station to make a report. If you have a hearing impairment, call TTY 106.
• For information and support if you are affected by sexual harm as a result of sexual violence – contact Arch to speak with specialist sex crimes investigators, counsellors and support workers. You can also report incidents of sexual violence to police at Arch.
• For advice, support and counselling relating to family violence (if you do not wish to report the matter to police in the first instance) – call the Family Violence Counselling Support Service on 1800 608 122.

Support services

The following support services are available to you regardless of whether you decide to make a report to police or not.

Arch

Arch is a safe place to go for information and support if you are affected by sexual harm as a result of sexual violence.

Counsellors, support workers and police investigators work together at Arch to provide coordinated and collaborative support in a trauma-sensitive way.

The service providers located at Arch are:

• Laurel House (at northern Arch) – counsellors
• Sexual Assault Support Service (at southern Arch) – counsellors
• Tasmania Police – specialist investigators (not in uniform)
• Strong Families Safe Kids Advice and Referral Line – Child Safety and Wellbeing Workers
• Child Safety Service – Child Safety Officers
• Family Violence Counselling and Support Service – Family Violence Workers

Arch is for anyone affected by sexual harm who is likely to be engaging with two or more service providers at Arch.

People of any age, gender and sexuality, and from all communities and backgrounds are welcome.

Arch is located in Launceston and Hobart. For more information about Arch visit https://arch.tas.gov.au/.

Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS)

SASS provides free and confidential therapeutic services and support for people of all ages and genders in southern Tasmania who have been affected by any form of sexual violence.   

Laurel House 

Laurel House provides free and confidential therapeutic services and support for people of all ages and genders in the north, north-east and north-west of Tasmania, who have been affected by any form of sexual violence.

Family Violence Counselling and Support Service – 1800 608 122

The Family Violence Counselling and Support Service offers free and professional specialised services to those affected by family and sexual violence and works with a range of services across government and the community sector.

Call 1800 608 122 between 9am–midnight weekdays, and 4pm–midnight on weekends and public holidays. 

1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732

1800RESPECT is a national confidential family and sexual violence information, counselling and support service operating 24 hours, 7 days a week.