Support

Support for survivors of sexual assault and/or sexual harassment

If you have experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault, support is available.

In an emergency, please call 000 now.

Western is committed to creating safer university communities. We treat information regarding sexual assault or sexual harassment seriously.

Sexual assault and sexual harassment are never OK. It is always the fault of the perpetrator.

After any trauma, survivors may feel confused, overwhelmed or nothing at all. This page (opens in a new window) covers some impacts and other questions you may have. Here's (opens in a new window) an excellent blog on understanding trauma in a university setting.

You may want to talk with someone in our community. See Western's First Responder Network (opens in a new window) for a list of students and staff who have been trained to listen to and refer survivors of sexual assault and sexual harassment in our community.

Support at Western

Free, confidential and professional counselling is available for all Western students and staff

Students

• Counselling Service (opens in a new window)
  • Email counselling@westernsydney.edu.au
  • Phone: 1300 668 370 . Drop-in, Zoom appointments, e-counselling, phone counselling and same-day appointments available.
• Students overseas - please contact Customer Care: 61 2 8907 5686 (24/7)
• For more information, see Sexual Assault Support at Western Sydney University (PDF) (opens in a new window)

Staff

• Staff counselling is available through the Employee Assistance Program (opens in a new window). Call 1800 818 728. Crisis service available, up to 6 appointments. All staff including casuals are eligible.
• Staff overseas, please contact Customer Care: 61 2 8907 5686 (24/7)
• For more information, see Sexual Assault Services at Western Sydney University (PDF) (opens in a new window)

Support in the community

Key services ​

• Sexual Assault Counselling Australia (opens in a new window) 1800 211 028 (8am-11pm) (interpreter available)
• NSW Rape Crisis (opens in a new window) 1800 424 017 (24/7)
• 1800 RESPECT (opens in a new window) 1800 737 732 (24/7) 
  • National Relay Service (opens in a new window) 1800 555 677 (accessibility support)
  • Translating and Interpreting Service (opens in a new window) 13 14 50
• QLife (opens in a new window) (LGBTIQQA+) 1800 184 527 (webchat and phone counselling available)
• Lifeline (opens in a new window) Crisis support 13 11 14 (24/7)
• Mensline (opens n a new window) For men concerned about their behaviour, help is available

NSW Health Sexual Assault Services (opens in a new window)

• Penrith Sexual Assault Service (Springfield Cottage) (02) 4734 2512 (bh); (02) 4734 2000 (ah)
• Macarthur/Bowral Sexual Assault Service (02) 4633 4100 (bh); (02) 9828 3000 (ah)
• Liverpool/Fairfield Sexual Assault Service (02) 9828 4844 (bh); (02) 9828 3000 (ah)
• Lithgow Sexual Assault Service (02) 4734 2512 (bh); (02) 4734 2000 (ah)
• The Children’s Hospital at Westmead (children and young people under 18 years of age) (02) 9845 2434 (bh) (02) 9845 0000 (ah)
• Blacktown/Mt Druitt Sexual Assault Service  (02) 9881 8700 (bh); (02) 9845 5555 (Adult) (ah); (02) 9845 0000 (Children) (ah)
• Bankstown Sexual Assault Service (02) 9828 4844 (business hours); (02) 9828 3000 (after hours)

International students

• Service NSW (opens in a new window) 13 77 88
• Study Sydney Support Services (opens in a new window)
• Redfern Legal Centre International (opens in a new window)

Information in various languages

• Rape and Domestic Violence Service in Languages other than English (opens in a new window)
• Translation and Interpreting Service (opens in a new window) (TIS) 13 14 50
• 1800 RESPECT multilingual information (opens in a new window)
• Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association (opens in a new window) 02 9891 6400
• Multicultural Health (opens in a new window) (includes bilingual counselling and translation services)
  • Contact hospitals and health centres directly or via Contact Us page (opens in a new window)
• Western Sydney Migrant Resource Centre (opens in a new window) 02 8778 1200
• Sydney Multicultural Community Services (opens in a new window)
• SydWest Multicultural Services (opens in a new window) 02 9621 6633

Women's Health Centres (opens in a new window)

• Bankstown (opens in a new window) 02 9490 1378
• Blacktown (opens in a new window) 02 9831 2070
• Blue Mountains (opens in a new window) 02 4782 5133
• Campbelltown (opens in a new window) (WILMA) 02 4627 2955
• Cumberland (opens in a new window) (Parramatta) 02 9689 3044
• Hawkesbury / Richmond (opens in a new window) 02 4578 4190
• Leichhardt (opens in a new window) 02 9560 3011
• Liverpool (opens in a new window) 02 9601 3555
• Mt Druitt (opens in a new window) (Wash House) 02 9677 1962
• Penrith (opens in a new window) 02 4721 8749
• Richmond (opens in a new window)  (HAWKS) 02 4578 4190

LGBTIQA+

• Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre (opens in a new window) Parramatta & Mt. Druitt 02 9843 3124. Free and confidential, no medicare card required, for:
  • People living with HIV/AIDS
  • Gay and other men who have sex with men
  • Trans and gender diverse people
  • Sex workers
  • People who inject drugs (secondary needle exchange)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (sexual health)
  • People with STI-related symptoms
  • People who had sexual contact with someone with HIV or STI
• QLife (opens in a new window) Counselling inc. web chat 1800 184 527 (3pm-12am) ask@qlife.org.au
• Twenty10 (opens in a new window) 02 8594 9555 (free face to face counselling for 12-25 year olds)
• Out West (opens in a new window) Parramatta youth and support groups
• Another Closet (opens in a new window) Information and resources
• ACON (opens in a new window): 92060 2000 Information, resources and counselling
• Say It Out Loud (opens in a new window): Information and resources

Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders

• Western Sydney Sexual Health Centre (opens in a new window) Parramatta & Mt. Druitt 02 9843 3124
• Victims Service Aboriginal contact line (opens in a new window) 1800 019 123
• Indigenous Women's Legal Program (opens in a new window)
• Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women's Legal Centre (opens in a new window) 1800 686 587
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services Parramatta (opens in a new window) 02 8836 3400
• Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Program (opens in a new window) 1300 888 529 (Youth Hotline 1800 10 18 10)

Disability

• Information on accessing resources for people with a disability (opens in a new window)
• Disability Advocacy (opens in a new window): 1300 365 085
• Women with Disabilities Australia (opens in a new window) 03 6244 8288
• Intellectual Disability Rights Service (opens in a new window) 02 9318 0144
• AUSLAN services by 1800 RESPECT (opens in a new window)

Men

• Mensline (opens in a new window) (24/7) 1300 78 99 78: Counselling and resources
• Men’s Referral Service (opens in a new window) (24/7) 1300 766 491: Counselling and resources
• Living Well (opens in a new window): Information and support for survivors
• Survivors and Mates Support Network (opens in a new window)

Mental Health

• Lifeline (opens in a new window) 13 11 14
• headspace (opens in a new window) (headspace Parramatta 1300 737 616