Sexual violence can affect people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, and can happen in a range of settings, such as homes, schools, workplaces, sporting groups and communities, including religious communities. Sexual violence has a major impact on individuals and families, including impacts on mental and physical health, education, work, relationships and community connections.
Sexual violence is a term that refers to a whole range of different behaviours, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, image-based abuse and child sexual abuse. Some key definitions are:
Consent is the most important thing when it comes to figuring out if something is sexual violence or not - if there's no consent, it's not ok. Consent should always be freely given, and you can't consent to sex if you're being forced or threatened, or are asleep or drunk.
Sexual violence is a sensitive issue and can bring up strong feelings for people, especially if they have experienced abuse or assault. If you feel like talking to someone, please contact Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or the Queensland Sexual Assault Helpline on 1800 010 120. More information on seeking help is available on the right hand side of this page.