Understanding Sexual Assault

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is any behaviour of a sexual nature that makes someone feel uncomfortable, frightened, intimidated or threatened.

It is sexual behaviour that someone has not consented to, where another person uses physical or emotional force against them.

Sexual assault is an abuse of power. Sexual assault is never the fault or responsibility of the victim survivor.

Examples of sexual assault can include;

Image based abuse such as exposure to pornography or illicit images
Unwanted touching
Sexual harassment
Stalking
Rape
Sexual exploitation and grooming (formally referred to as child pornography).

Consent

Consent needs to be mutual (both people have to agree) and must be continuous.

A person has the right to stop at any time or change their mind at any time, and just because someone has said yes to one thing doesn’t mean they have consented to anything else.

Consent cannot be given if the person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or is unconscious/asleep. If the person is living with a significant mental or physical disability, this can prevent them from providing informed consent. The law in Victoria sets clear age limits for when you can legally have sex. This is called the age of consent. Please see Victoria Legal aid for further information: Age of consent | Victoria Legal Aid.

Enthusiastic consent should be obtained each and every time people have a sexual encounter, regardless of whether or not they have been intimate before. It is important to regularly check in with your partner to make sure that they are still wanting to proceed.

Consent should be FRIES: