SARAH (not her real name) was 25 when she was sexually assaulted two years ago by a stranger in inner-city Melbourne.
Her GP was the first person she chose to confide in, and with their support, the outer east woman found the courage to visit the Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault.
"They then encouraged me to tell my family. It was really important to me to have all these people, both professionals and my family, that believed me," she said.
That support gave her the strength to report her assault to the police. "I don't know if I would have been able to do it on my own without the support from CASA. They went through every step of it with me."
Sarah believes more people are feeling confident about coming forward but feels the justice system for these crimes is flawed.
Sarah is now in the middle of court proceedings with her attacker. "There is not one part of my life that has been left untouched by this."