About

Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre

BRISSC: Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre

Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivors Support Centre (BRISSC) is a grassroots feminist organisation that works to end violence against women and children. We provide free, confidential support, counselling and advocacy for women and gender diverse folk who have experienced sexual violence and their allies. BRISSC believes no one deserves to be sexually abused. Abusers make a choice to abuse, but too often it is survivors who are blamed and shamed.

Sexual violence impacts people in different ways and they have the right to deal with their experience in their own way at their own pace. We welcome people from diverse cultural backgrounds.

Services BRISSC offers

BRISSC offers short to medium term individual support and counselling to women (15+) who have experienced sexual violence at any time during their lives. Short to medium support is typically up to 12 months. We deliver feminist support in a safe, confidential and empowering environment – free of charge.

Our support is based on the belief survivors have the right to:

  • Be listened to, believed and supported
  • Be treated with respect, dignity and understanding
  • Deal with your own life, in your own way, at your own pace
  • Choose who you disclose to and when
  • Confidentiality and privacy
  • Receive practical information including reporting, legal and medical options
  • Interpreter and disability support

Face-to-face support and counselling can be accessed from any of our three service locations:

  • Woolloongabba: Women’s House, 15 Morrissey St
  • Richlands: Brisbane Southwest Support, 75 Old Progress Rd
  • Nundah: Brisbane North Sexual Violence Response, ‘The Loft’ 5/1180 Sandgate Rd

If you are interested in accessing face-to-face support and counselling, please contact our support line on (07) 3391 0004 or send us an email at support@brissc.org.au.

(07) 3391 0004

The BRISSC phone support line operates 10am-1pm, Monday to Thursday (closed public holidays).

Our phone support workers provide emotional support, advocacy, information and referral to women who have experienced sexual violence. We also offer support, information and referrals to friends and family members of survivors, male survivors and the wider community over the phone.

Please note, the phone support line is not a crisis counselling service.

If you require support over the phone outside of these hours, contact one of these Support Hotlines.

BRISSC provides both open and closed support and social action groups for survivors of sexual violence. Groups are a great opportunity to connect with other survivors of sexual violence. Groups are advertised on the BRISSC website, our email lists, and through our Facebook page.

If you would like to be added to our email list to be the first to hear about groups, events and workshops, please contact us or add your email to the ‘Friends of BRISSC’ newsletter sign-up on our website.

We facilitate a range of educational packages for tertiary education institutions, workplaces, government, and non-government organisations on working with survivors, sexual violence, and advocating for survivors.

Some educational and training activities we are funded to provide, and others may incur a non-profit fee. Packages can be tailored for particular groups. If you would like to discuss educational opportunities further, please contact us.

Criminal Justice Support
BRISSC supports survivors of sexual violence navigate the criminal justice system. We support survivors to:

  • Report and make a formal statement to police
  • Throughout the police investigation process
  • Throughout the court process

Victims Assist Queensland (VAQ)
If you have been the victim of a crime in Queensland, you may be entitled to financial restitution and/or a special recognition payment. BRISSC supports survivors of sexual violence to apply for VAQ. If your experience of sexual violence occurred prior to 2009, a criminal conviction is required to access financial restitution and/or a special recognition payment. If your experience occurred after 2009, a criminal conviction is not required.

Find out more about Advocacy and VAQ >

Contact BRISSC for support

For sexual violence support in Richlands, contact BRISSC:

75 Old Progress Rd, Richlands
(07) 3391 0004
support@brissc.org.au

https://brissc.org.au