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 SOCIT 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 SOCIT directly
Find contact details for each SOCIT across the state.
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 CRIME-TASKFORCESANO-OIC@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 eight Multi-disciplinary Centres (MDCs) across Victoria.
What a Multi-disciplinary Centre does
Multidisciplinary centres (MDCs) house a range of support services. The services provide a coordinated response for victim survivors of sexual offences (including child sexual abuse and assault) that is:
- specialised
- trauma-informed, and
- victim-centred.
MDCs are carefully designed to provide a safe, welcoming and confidential environment for victim survivors and their support people.
Multiple agencies in one building
Several agencies are co-located in one building to collaborate and provide victim-centred services. This includes:
- specialist police
- child protection practitioners
- sexual assault counsellor advocates, and
- community health nurses.
Locating these agencies in one building aims to improve accessibility, timeliness, and effectiveness of the services.
Safety and recovery for victim survivors
The services aim to promote safety and recovery for victim survivors. This includes timely access to support and justice options, such as reporting and investigation of sexual violence.
Victims of registrable offenders
Registrable offenders are offenders who have been convicted of certain sexual offences as outlined within the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004, and who are subject to reporting requirements and employment restrictions.
Victoria Police now has the discretion to inform a victim, their parent or their representative, if a registrable offender has made an application:
- for a registration exemption order
- for suspension of reporting obligations for five years or for life
- to revoke a suspension order
- for approval of a change of name application
- for approval of an acknowledgement of sex application that includes a change of name.
This update to the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 came into effect on 10 December 2025.
Contacting victims
We want to understand if victims wish to receive contact from us about the applications outlined above.
If you are a victim of a registrable offender, and you would like to receive more information, please contact VICTIM-NOTIFICATION-MGR@police.vic.gov.au.
We can assist you to understand how to register your contact preferences with Victoria Police.
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