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I am from a non-English speaking background

If English is not your first language, it can be harder to find out:

• How to contact sexual assault, and other services.
• What support the services can offer you.
• Where to access information.
• What your rights are.

Sex without consent is a crime
In Australia this applies even if you are married or living in a defacto relationship. Specialist services exist to support women who have been sexually assaulted. Those services may differ from the services available in your country of origin or you may come from an area where getting to such services was difficult.

Getting help
The NSW Rape Crisis Centre and NSW Health Sexual Assault Services have trained counsellors who are sensitive to your needs as a woman from a non-English speaking background. A counsellor will listen and believe you without judging you or your community and without trying to persuade you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with.

Finding someone to talk to
If you have been sexually assaulted, you may feel frightened and alone. You may want to talk to a counsellor. Talking about your experience can give you the opportunity to begin to deal with what has happened.

You might give yourself permission to acknowledge your feelings of trauma and receive some support. This may also help you in breaking down the isolation. The counsellor could be from your own community, because you feel that someone with the same cultural background will understand you better. Or you may want to talk to a counsellor who is not from your local community but who speaks the same language. It can be hard to find someone in a close community but you have a right to ask for the most appropriate support for you. Your right to make your own decisions and to complete confidentiality should be respected.

Confidentiality
What you tell your counsellor is confidential: they will not tell anyone else what you have said without your permission. There are very few exceptions: for example, the counselling service may have to report if they are worried that you might harm yourself or someone else. Sometimes people who have recently arrived in Australia are afraid of using such services. Your sexual assault counsellor can tell you about confidentiality and what the exceptions are. Sexual assault services will not report the matter to the Police unless it is your choice to do so. If you are afraid to go to a service because people in your community might find out what has happened, you can visit a service further away from where you live. You can also get counselling and information over the phone from the NSW Rape Crisis Centre, with an interpreter if needed.

Racism
Sometimes men rape women of another culture out of racial hatred, and subject them to verbal abuse, racist insults and threats. This can be shattering to your confidence and sense of security. Sexual assault counsellors can help you deal with this trauma. Talking to someone about what has happened to you can make you feel less alone. Sometimes it may be possible to connect you to women who have had similar experiences.

For Service Providers
How can you make access easier?

• Understand that people of non-English-speaking backgrounds may have different understandings and expectations. For example, they may not be familiar with your ideas of counselling and support.
• Acknowledge your own cultural biases, including those based on ethnocentrism and racism.
• Develop links with different cultural communities.
• Provide information and educational material in community languages, developed in consultation with the relevant communities.
• Employ bilingual workers.

Interpreters
Sexual assault and many other services can access trained interpreters. You have a right to an interpreter when you report to Police, when you go to a sexual assault service and when you go to court.

In NSW, interpreter services are available from Community Relations Commission Language Services (phone 1300 651 500), and the Translating and Interpreter Service 24 hrs (phone 13 14 50).

Other Services for non-English speaking background and immigrant women:

• Immigrant Women's Speakout, Harris Park, Ph: 96358022
• Immigrant Women's Health Centre, Fairfield, Ph: 97264044
• Association of Non English Speaking Background Women of Australia, Ph: 9223 5366
• Migrant Resource Centres
  • Botany: 9663 3922
  • Inner West 9798 4777
  • St George 9597 5455
  • Auburn 9649 6955
  • Parramatta 9687 9901
  • Blacktown 9621 6633
  • Canterbury/ Bankstown 9789 3744
  • Fairfield 9727 0477
  • Liverpool 9601 3788
  • Macarthur 4627 1188
  • Illawarra 4229 6855
  • Newcastle and Hunter Region 4969 3399