A combined sample of the 1989 and 1992 Australian national crime victim's survey showed that about one out of every two hundred women had experienced a rape or attempted rape during the 12 months preceding the survey.

Estimates based on 1991 Bureau of Crime Statistics figures and a ratio of 1: 3 reporting rate, a woman in New South Wales has a one in eight chance of being raped.

Sometimes, violence comes despite the best possible avoidance measures, and when it does, there is often no opportunity to summon help. In those cases, a woman is forced to face her attacker alone, using only her resources and knowledge to survive. Fortunately, women who are properly trained and confident in their ability to protect themselves can do so effectively. "Fighting back" is a difficult and uncomfortable subject for many people to think about, but it does not have to be that way. Being a victim stays with you for life, once you cross through that turnstile in life, at that point you will never be the same person again. It's not as hard as you think to learn to defend yourself, but it's much harder than you think to recover from a rape or assault.

KEY POINTS

Did you know?

- The number of adult women sexually assaulted in Australia each year is 98,500 (victim survey for over 18s).

- The highest incidence of sexual assault reported to police win SA is actually in the 15-19 year age group.

- Sexual assaults in order are likely to occur in:
  1. In the home
  2. In or around licensed premises
  3. In the workplace.

- The percentage of adult victims/survivors of sexual assault who knew the offender is 65% to 75%.

- Statistics indicate that that a lack of resistance did not increase a woman's chance of avoiding rape or injury.

- Usually fleeing or trying to flee was the most effective but least used strategy.

- The more combined strategies involving strong physical aggression together with verbal resistance were used the better the likelihood of avoiding rape.

- The most frequently used tactic of talking was ineffective.

- All women who did nothing to resist were still raped. These women usually suffer from post event guilt. Some victims are still assaulted even though they offered no resistance.

- Women who acted immediately, aggressively, and vigorously were most effective in resisting. Initially aggressive victims were found to be twice as successful in warding off a rape than those who were not.