Vulnerable survivors facing barriers to supports - RCC

The Rape Crisis Centre has said survivors who are especially vulnerable, such as those with a disability, face particular challenges to disclosure, reporting, and accessing support.

The centre has today launched a new report revealing some of the barriers faced by survivors of sexual violence in accessing the supports they need.

It said survivors with multiple risk factors – including those relating to disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, and legal status – face compounded barriers to disclosure, reporting, and accessing support.

A total of 35.7% of incidents experienced by survivors facing compounded barriers were reported to a formal authority in 2025, according to the report.

The report said 26.7% of survivors whose abuse first occurred between the ages of 45 and 64 identified as having a disability.

It added that more clients were seen in 2025 than in 2018 (40.4%) while 23.7% of survivors waited more than 10 years before disclosing.

The report also said more men and boys accessed counselling in 2025 compared to 2018 (54.5%) while 18.8% of survivors experienced multiple incidents of sexual violence in their lifetime.

The Rape Crisis Centre said it supported 1,285 survivors – up 4% on 2024 – and responded to over 15,000 helpline contacts, a 15.4% increase on the previous year.

Among those seeking support, significant numbers face compounded barriers to disclosure, reporting, and accessing support, including survivors with disabilities, those from migrant and minority communities, and others whose circumstances place additional distance between them and the help they need.

More than one-in-five survivors waited over a decade before disclosing their abuse to anyone, and unmet need remains a reality across the country, it said.