200+ Victorians report being sexually assaulted every week

Hundreds of Victorians — including more than 10 children — are being sexually abused every week, with victims pinning the blame on a toxic online culture normalising “vile behaviour”.

More than 300 Victorians are sexually abused every week, shocking new crime data has revealed Picture: iStock

More than 30 Victorians — including at least one child — are reporting being sexually assaulted every day, with leading advocates pinning the blame on a toxic online culture normalising “vile behaviour”.

It comes as the latest Victorian Crime Statistics Agency data revealed a 20 per cent spike in recorded sexual offences in the year to September 2024.

More than 11,000 victims came forward to police during that time — up from about 9200 the year before.

Rape and indecent assault offences rose considerably during those 12 months as well as child sexual abuse offences which increased by 34 per cent.

Cathy Oddie — a lived experience advocate and former representative of the Victims of Crime Consultative Committee — said while it was “uplifting” to see more victims reporting their experience to police; the sharp rise in offences was “extremely concerning”.

“It is so devastating for that person’s life not just around dealing with the immediate impacts but the long term effects of the trauma,” she said.

Cathy Oddie is a lived experience advocate and a former member of the Victims of Crime Consultative Committee. Picture: Supplied

Ms Oddie said the weaponisation of sex and the normalisation of “toxic” attitudes towards women online were major factors behind the spike in sexual offences.

“When you’re looking at the influence of people like Andrew Tate and the internet rabbit holes that people can get drawn down, you find that this misogynistic incel community exists,” she said.

“I also think online dating apps have a lot to be responsible for. Of course all these platforms haven’t been created at inception to cause harm but what a lot of creators haven’t predicted is the harm that does exist around them.

“There’s so much pressure in that online dating space ... the fact that at the first meeting you’ll allow someone into your own home is something that’s become normal, putting massive safety risks around those involved.”

The most sexual offences last year were recorded in Melbourne’s CBD followed by Casey in the southeast, Ballarat and Knox.

Of the 11,274 people who reported to police last year, more than 7300 knew their alleged attacker.

About 30 per cent of all victim reports were filed by girls aged under 18.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, one in five women have experienced sexual violence while 20 per cent of Australian women have also been stalked.

Moreover, more than two in three men accused of stalking women went on to allegedly assault a female.

Sex crimes are also the most likely to drop out of the court system, with fewer than five per cent of alleged rapes proven in court.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the force took an “extremely serious” view to sexual offending.

“Police are continuing to respond to increasing rates of this crime, working day in and day out to hold perpetrators to account and ensure the safety of victims,” she said.

“The message we want to get out there to victims is: when you’re ready, speak to us, speak to someone, reach out. We acknowledge the difficulties in reporting this crime to police and want victims to know that it is never too late to make a report.”

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