Physical assault

Having a violent crime happen to you or a loved one can be very upsetting and disruptive – and sometimes the effects may be felt for a long time after the crime occurs.

Particularly if someone is badly hurt, it can be difficult to know what to do next – but you do not have to deal with it alone.

The Victims of Crime Helpline can connect you with services or you can use this website to learn more about the justice system in Victoria and what to do next.

What is physical assault?

A physical assault occurs when a person uses physical violence and causes injury to another person’s body.

If the violence causes a person’s death, the crime may be called a homicide.

A physical assault can happen as part of:

If someone threatens you with harm or behaves in a way that makes you think they will harm you, this can also be a crime.

Depending on the circumstances, an accused person may be charged with different offences such as:

common, aggravated or more serious assault
causing injury or serious injury
robbery (theft of property where violence has been used)
affray.

If the violence causes a person’s death, this is called a homicide and the charges will be more serious.

If physical violence is threatened, the charges can include:

threats to kill
threats to inflict serious injury
robbery (theft of property where violence has been threatened)
aggravated burglary (breaking into a person’s home when they are there).

Free support across Victoria

The Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817 is available every day from 8am to 11pm to provide advice and support to anyone who has experienced a physical assault in Victoria.

The helpline can also help people who are experiencing difficulty and need support after being a witness to a violent crime.

When you contact the helpline, a Victims Support Officer can discuss your situation with you and advise on assistance and support services you can access.

The helpline may also be able to organise a support worker from the Victims Assistance Program who can:

organise counselling, transport and medical services
help you communicate with police
assist with managing disruptions to work and study by letting people know what has happened
assist with applying for financial assistance
provide options for managing your home and personal security, if they have been affected by the crime.

Understanding the traumatic effects of crime

Aside from the physical injuries that may result because of violence, experiencing a crime (or having a loved one affected by a crime) can be frightening and traumatic.

Witnesses who see someone hurt can also be deeply affected, even if they do not know the victim.

Everyone's response is different, but it can be helpful to understand the common feelings and physical reactions people have and what to expect.

On this website, you can learn more about:

common emotional and physical reactions to stressful events like crimes
suggestions to help you with recovery
how to best support a family member or friend
how to help a child who has been affected by crime.

Whether it is just after the crime or you are dealing with ongoing effects on your health and wellbeing, counselling is available. The Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817 can connect you to services that can help.

Help to understand the justice process

The Victims of Crime Helpline can answer your questions about:

the justice process and what to expect
getting information about the court case
giving evidence as a witness and support that is available for you if you need to go to court
preparing a Victim Impact Statement to tell the court how the crime affected you
getting information from the Victims Register about the offender if they are sentenced to prison.

You can learn more about homicide and the justice process below.

Report a physical assault

If anyone is immediate danger or a crime is occurring, please call police on Triple Zero (000). You can also go to your local police station to report a crime.

You can contact your local police station to report non-urgent situations such as:

a physical assault that happened in the past
threats of harm where there is no immediate danger.

You can learn more about reporting a crime to police.

There are good reasons to report crimes to the police, even if the accused person is a family member or loved one. But sometimes people do not wish to report. If that is the case for you, or you are not sure, you can still talk to the Victims of Crime Helpline and get advice and support.

When a crime such as physical assault is reported to police, they will:
- deal with any immediate danger of someone being hurt or further injured
- call medical or other services to treat any injuries victims may have
- secure the location (if that is appropriate) to make sure it is safe and to collect evidence
- investigate what happened.
Evidence that may be needed
As a victim or witness, you may be asked to give a detailed statement about what happened.
The police may also ask for your cooperation to collect evidence. This can include:
- medical records and photographs of injuries you sustained
- photographs and other evidence from the location the crime happened
- clothing or other items you had with you that may help to show what happened.
If someone is charged
If an accused person is found by the police, they may be charged with a crime.
This website explains the justice process in Victoria. You can learn about:
- police investigations
- how charges are laid
- what happens when a case goes to court
- what you need to do if you have to go to court
- what happens if an accused person is found guilty.
Some crimes can be of interest to the media. The police will not release the name of a victim without the consent of the next of kin, but the media may still be able to identify victims and contact friends and families.
If you have questions or concerns, you can contact:
- the police officer in charge of your investigation
- the Victims of Crime Helpline on 1800 819 817.
You can learn more about victims of crime and the media.

Counselling and crisis support services

Lifeline

24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Open: 24 hours, every day
Call: 13 11 14
Website: lifeline.org.au

Mental health care plan – see your General Practitioner

If you need assistance, you can see a General Practitioner and discuss your situation. You may be eligible for a mental health care plan that will assist with the cost of counselling.

Other services

Victoria Legal Aid

Victoria Legal Aid’s (VLA) Legal Help service provides free general legal information over the phone and by chat online.

Open: 8am–6pm, every day
Call: 1800 677 402
Website: legalaid.vic.gov.au

WorkSafe Victoria

Victoria’s health and safety regulator and manager of Victoria’s workers compensation scheme (WorkCover). If the physical assault happened while you were performing work duties, you may be entitled to make a claim.

Open: 7.30am–6.30pm, Monday to Friday
Call: 1800 136 089
Website: worksafe.vic.gov.au

Services for LGBTIQ+ people

Rainbow Door

Rainbow Door is a free specialist helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQ+ Victorians, their friends and family.

Open: every day 10am to 5pm

Call: 1800 729 367
Text: 0408 017 246
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au
Website: rainbowdoor.org.au

Switchboard

Switchboard is a volunteer organisation which provides a free, confidential and anonymous telephone counselling, referral and information service for Victorian bisexual, transgender and gender diverse, intersex, queer and asexual (LGBTIQ+) people and their supporters.

Switchboard partners with QLife to provide a phone and webchat service.

Open: 3pm–midnight, every day
Call: 1800 184 527
Website: switchboard.org.au or qlife.org.au

Thorne Harbour Health

A community-controlled organisation providing health services for LGBTIQ+ people, including relationship counselling.

Open:
9am–7pm, Monday
9am–9pm Tuesday to Thursday
9am–5pm Friday
Call: 1800 134 835
Website: thorneharbour.org

w/respect

A specialist LGBTIQ+ family violence service to support LGBTIQ+ people and their families affected by family violence.

w/respect is a partnership of four LGBTIQ+ specialist organisations; queerspace (supported by drummond street services), Thorne Harbour Health, Switchboard and Transgender Victoria.

Open:
9am–5pm Monday to Friday
After hours counselling 5pm–11pm Wednesday and 10am–10pm Saturday and Sunday
Call: 1800 LGBTIQ
Website: withrespect.org.au

queerspace (supported by drummond street services)

queerspace provides a safe and supportive space to obtain information and access services aimed at improving the health and well-being of LGBTIQ+ people.

Open:
9am–5pm Monday to Friday
After hours counselling 5pm–11pm Wednesday, 10am–10pm Saturday and Sunday
Call: (03) 9663 6733

Transgender Victoria (TGV)

TGV is Victoria’s leading body for trans and gender diverse advocacy. Provides service and referrals for trans and gender diverse people, their partners, families and friends.

Call: (03) 9020 4642
Website: tgv.org.au

Law & justice

Updated 27 November 2023