Testimonies

I was with a group of people and we were intoxicated, after everyone left it was just me and another boy that was 3 years older than me, I was unaware of what was going on, i was sitting on a couch he pulled my head to his and "kissed" me then took my shirt and bra off and started squeezing my breasts and when told him to stop and to leave he told me "i'm fine" and i told him to leave and i was really tried and that i wanted to go to bed and he proceeded to follow me to my bed room (i was unaware he followed) and got on top of me in the bed and started to "kiss" me again and when i told him to stop repeatedly he would just say "it's fine i will be gone by morning" he then put his hand into my pants and then between my legs then took his pants and undies off and took take mine off and started to take my undies off, only when i started to yell at him he finally stopped. The next day I told two of my friends that were with me and when they questioned him he told them I was lying and attention seeking and that he left when every one else left, i only ever told a few of my friends and my sister, he told a lot of people but instead of the truth he said it never happened and i was a lying attention seeker, i thought it would never affect me in the long run but it does, i get flashbacks about it all the time but more and more often.

I was at a gatho and got super drunk, and went to the bathroom to throw up. I passed out on the floor, but one of the boys (all boys private school - prefer not to say which) came in and raped me. I was in a very weird state of consciousness - I was aware of what was happening to me, but I was completely unable to speak or move. I had to just lie there while he did it. I haven't gone to a gatho since then - I get too anxious being around boys.

He was my boyfriend of 10 months. We were in the same year at school. We used to get out early on a Thursday and go back to his house, which would often be the only time we might get alone as we both had younger siblings. He wanted to have sex but I didn't. I can remember saying no and that I didn't want to at least three times before he got upset and punched the mattress. I thought he would break up with me. I thought I owed it to him because we had spoken about doing it before and he'd waited long enough. I thought that he was right when he said that it might be our only opportunity for while. So I caved and I said okay, and I laid there and cried. I cried on the 40 minute walk to the train station and he apologised to me and told me that I didn't have to count it as losing my virginity. If I had better consent education, maybe I wouldn't have stayed with him after the incident. Maybe I wouldn't have been coerced by him or others on a handful of other occasions.

I was out with my (ex) boyfriend (a year older than me) after being apart for 5 months during the lockdown. We had talked about going further before but my mental health declined majorly and wanted to wait until I was in the right headspace before I did something I might regret. I was out with him, my sister, and my friend, on a boat, we had gone into the room and started kissing, I left the door open because I had a gut feeling he would do something, he shut the door and the curtains and we started kissing, he started touching me inappropriately and I immediately felt uncomfortable, my sister and my friend were right outside completely oblivious, I pushed him off before anything else could happen. I still haven't told anyone and I'm scared that this is going to count as sexual assault.

The boys in my year would share nude pictures my classmates had sent their boyfriends, amassing photos from girls in our year, the year below and above - all without their (the girls) knowledge. They would brag about this openly to other people, even offer to show them.

At a 21st birthday party a mate I knew since primary school and I were in the hot tub chatting. He started sliding his hand up my thigh. I first removed his hand, then when he put it back I said nah don't, and then when he put it back again I said I don't want you to touch me like that it's not our relationship. He put his hand back and said no no don't worry about it it's nothing. I got up and left. I told everyone about it and I lost most of my friends from school who thought I was being difficult and trying to start drama by telling people.

I was away with a bunch of friends and got extremely intoxicated to the point I have absolutely no memory. I woke up the next morning to be told by my friends that I had slept with a boy. I was extremely in denial it had even happened as I don't recall any of it still to this day. The same male told my friend that I was clearly in pain during but bragged he did not stop. A few months later he took advantage of me again whilst drinking, this time I remember it clearly and I told him to stop but it took at least 5 minutes for him to physically get off me after I told him to stop. Even if someone says yes extremely intoxicated where they cannot control their actions it doesn't always mean yes, asking someone to stop means to stop.

He put his hands down my pants after I'd said no multiple times and tried to stop him by holding him back but he was stronger. He kept saying I'd like it and it'd be fine. I didn't realise It was assault until months later. It had happened more than three times

When I was in year 8 I was having a sleepover with one of my girlfriends and we were skyping some of our friends who went to X. They insisted we play truth or dare and progressively the questions made me more and more uncomfortable until I was asked to send them a photo of my boobs. I told my friend that I really didn't want to, but she told me it wasn't a big deal. When I seemed hesitant the boys started teasing me and mocking me. My friend convinced me to at least send them a photo of me in a bra and I felt like I had no other option so I did. I was only 13 at the time. Now I'm 21 and totally horrified that our friends started sexualising us from such a young age.

I was assaulted many times during high school. The first was when the boy I was dating (I was 12) was going around calling me frigid for not getting with him so he and his friends made a plan to push me into him on the stair well so I would kiss him. It felt disgusting. The next was when I was a little older with my first proper boyfriend (aged 14) and I was in a position where I was fingered without my consent. I froze. I didn't know what to do, I thought it was my role as a young girl to let boys do what they want. People were talking about me for weeks after for what I had done (there was no mention of him). My boyfriend would complain to me if I didn't have sex with him so there were many times he would have sex with me while I was lying underneath him, feeling helpless. I loved getting my period because it meant it wouldn't happen. The world needs consent education.

In primary school, the boys in my year level would grope and kiss girls without their consent. We thought it was normal and just laughed about it, but I realise now how messed up it was. They told us not to worry about it, that it was just them being silly. I remember one girl being constantly harassed by this other boy, it continued well into high school, and to this day I'm terrified that without proper education these guys will continue without reprimand.

I was partying in Kings cross and met a guy when I was 18. I was very drunk and invited him back to my hotel. I was on my period and proceed to tell him couldn't and I said 'No, I can't', he proceeded to say 'come on' as he ripped my clothes off and raped me while I was on my period. My friends at the time still don't know what happened to this day. I thought it was my fault because I was drunk and invited him back. Took me a long time to realise that it was in fact rape and not my fault.

My best guy friend from school and I were sleeping in the same bed a schoolies and I woke up to him pushing his penis into me and trying to kiss me. I had no idea what was happening and didn't know what to do or say so I went a lot with it. To justify this I tried to date him for 3 months after and would consensually kiss him (but only in secret). He brought girls around in front of me to try and gaslight me. Finally when I said I can't be friends with him anymore he spread horrible rumours about me and as a result I lost all my school friends. I never even told anyone what he did.

It was my best friend's brother. We were all around his house for some sports event I didn't care about. All sitting on the couch, he slipped his hand between my thighs under the blanket. I didn't say anything at the time because I was embarrassed. When I told my best friend a few weeks later he laughed, told his dad and nobody confronted the brother. A few days ago he texted me asking if I wanted to go to his apartment. I didn't reply.

I was sexually assaulted (groped between my legs) from behind at my school dance. I was standing by myself taking a break from dancing. I had never felt so humiliated and powerless. I heard males laughing but by the time I turned around whoever it was had gone and it was so dark. Who could I even report it to? The brothers or male teachers who were supervising? I don't even know who had done it! I was 15.