Sexual offences and child abuse support teams and centres

Sexual offences (or sex crimes) and child abuse cases need a specialist response. Talk to police and support teams who understand the complexity of these crimes, and how to best support you.

Here are the different sexual offences and child abuse teams and centres across Victoria, and how to contact them.

Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT)

Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams (SOCITs) are made up of specialist detectives.

They are specially trained to respond to and investigate child abuse and sexual crimes, and support victims.

What the Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team does

Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Teams prioritise the needs of victims. Any investigation is a victim-led process.

SOCIT members aim to:

ensure your safety and wellbeing
assist your ability to regain control of your circumstances, and
provide access to support, information, justice, and services appropriate to your needs.

Contact a Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team directly

Find contact details for each SOCIT across the state.

- Brimbank SOCIT: phone 03 9313 3460
- Fawkner SOCIT: phone 03 9355 6100
- Melbourne SOCIT:
  - Phone: 03 9624 3781
  - Fax: 03 9244 2568
- Mernda SOCIT: phone 03 9216 1310
- Wyndham (MDC): phone 03 9216 0566.
- Bayside SOCIT: phone 03 8530 5203
- Dandenong (MDC): phone 03 8769 2200
- Frankston (MDC): phone 03 8770 1000.
- Ararat SOCIT: phone 03 5355 1500
- Ballarat SOCIT: phone 03 4372 9095
- Bendigo (MDC): phone 03 5444 6752
- Colac SOCIT: phone 03 5232 8255
- Geelong (MDC): phone 03 5246 8101
- Horsham SOCIT: phone 03 5382 9200
- Mildura (MDC): phone 03 5023 5980
- Swan Hill SOCIT: phone 03 5036 1600
- Warrnambool SOCIT: phone 03 5560 1333.
- Bairnsdale SOCIT: phone 03 5150 2677
- Benalla SOCIT: phone 03 5760 0230
- Box Hill SOCIT: phone 03 8892 3292
- Knox SOCIT: phone 03 8335 6701
- Morwell (Central Gippsland) MDC: phone 03 5120 0351
- Sale SOCIT: phone 03 5142 2200
- Seymour SOCIT: phone 03 5735 0208
- Shepparton SOCIT: phone 03 5820 5878
- Wangaratta SOCIT: phone 03 5723 0893
- Wodonga SOCIT: phone 02 6049 2600 - select 4 for SOCIT
- Wonthaggi SOCIT: phone 03 5671 4100.

Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team (formerly SANO Taskforce)

The Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team is a specialist unit within Victoria Police.

What the Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team does

Sometimes the SOCIT will refer your report to the Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team. They investigate child abuse and sexual abuse that happened in a religious or institutional setting.

Contact the Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team

You can email the Sexual Crime Squad - Historical Investigation Team at sanotaskforce@police.vic.gov.au.

You can also call them on 1800 110 007.

Multi-disciplinary Centres (MDCs) for victims and/or survivors

There are currently seven Multi-disciplinary Centres (MDCs) across Victoria.

What a Multi-disciplinary Centre does

These centres combine a range of agencies in the one building.

They provide victim-centred, integrated services to victims and/or survivors of:

sexual assault
child abuse
and, in some locations, family violence.

Multi-disciplinary Centres:
- provide a safe, welcoming, accessible, and confidential environment
- are specially designed for the comfort of victims
- are located away from police stations
- have minimal external signage to enhance the privacy and security of clients.
- feature police members out of uniform.
The following MDC agencies and specialists work together to fully support the victim:
- Victoria Police specialist investigators (SOCITs and, in some locations, Family Violence Investigation Units (FVIUs))
- child protection staff from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, counsellors, and advocates of sexual assault
- family violence response services and community health nurses.
Some MDCs also have forensic medical officers attend from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine (VIFM). They can support police investigations onsite by:
- providing expert forensic opinions
- undertaking forensic examinations.
MDCs are a 'one-stop shop' for providing safe and discreet access to:
- specially trained police investigators
- counselling and advocacy support
- private counselling rooms and group therapy spaces
- Video Audio Recorded Evidence ('VARE') rooms where children and people with cognitive impairments can provide their statement
- clinic rooms for health and wellbeing needs assessments
- treatment programs for children and young people up to 18 years of age who are displaying or engaging in sexually abusive behaviours
- forensic medical suites (at some locations) to enable forensic examinations onsite
- remote witness facilities (at some locations) so victim-survivors can provide their evidence to court.
Eastern Region Multi-disciplinary Centres
- Morwell (Central Gippsland) MDC: phone 03 5120 0300.
Southern Metro Multi-disciplinary Centres
- Dandenong MDC: phone 03 8769 2200
- Seaford MDC: phone 03 8770 1000.
North West Metro Multi-disciplinary Centres
- Wyndham MDC: phone 03 9216 0566.
Western Region Multi-disciplinary Centres
- Bendigo MDC: phone 03 5444 6700
- Geelong MDC: phone 03 5223 7200
- Mildura MDC: phone 03 5023 5980.

Your safety

Updated 6 September 2024