On this page, we talk about stalking.

There is support available if the information on this page upsets you.

You can find out more on our page about support.

On this page:

• What stalking is
• Who can experience stalking
• What you can do
• Example story

Stalking can include when someone:

• watches or follows you over a period of time
• checks where you are all the time.

It can also include when someone goes to places where you often are.

For example, places where you:

• live
• work
• spend time with friends.

Stalking can make you feel:

• scared
• uncomfortable
• unsafe
• like you do not have control.

You have the right to feel safe and keep your life private.

Stalking is against the law in Australia.

We wrote some examples of stalking to help you understand what it is.

You can skip this section if it upsets you.

It can be hard to know if someone is stalking you.

Someone might follow you without you knowing.

For example, they might follow you:

• to your school or where you work
• when you are out with your friends.

Someone might give you a note or a gift.

Even though you have made it clear you do not want them.

For example, they might leave notes or gifts:

• at your house
• where you work.

Someone might show up where you are, even though you did not:

• ask them to be there
• tell anyone where you were going.

Someone who is stalking you might contact the people close to you.

For example, a:

• family member
• friend.

They might:

• go into your house when no one is there
• do things to show that they were in your house, like move items around.

Someone who is stalking you might try to find out information about you online.

For example, they might look at your social media accounts to find out:

• where you go
• who you spend time with.

They might try to scare you by contacting you a lot.

For example, they might:

• call you
• send you text messages
• leave you voice recordings.

Someone who is stalking you might use a device that tells them where you are.

For example, they might put this device in your car to find out where you go.

Anyone can experience stalking.

But the Disability Royal Commission found that women with disability are more likely to experience stalking than other people.

You can visit the Disability Royal Commission website for more information.

People can experience stalking from anyone.

This includes:

• a stranger
• someone they know.

But it is more likely to be from someone they know.

For example:

• a partner, like a boyfriend or girlfriend
• an ex-partner
• a carer
• someone they work with.

It is never your fault if you experience stalking.

Nothing you did caused it to happen.

It is the other person who is:

• doing the wrong thing
• breaking the law.

There are things you can do if you think someone is stalking you.

If you think someone is stalking you, you should try to ignore them.

You should not:

• become friends with them
• talk to them.

It is a good idea to keep a record of what the person has done.

For example, keep:

• their text messages
• a list of when they have called you.

You can ask someone you trust to help you record what the person has done.

It is also a good idea to contact the police if you experience stalking.

Or if you feel unsafe.

You can call Triple Zero to contact the police.

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We have a section on this website about how to call Triple Zero.

You can find out more on our page about a guide to call Triple Zero.

We wrote a story to show an example of stalking.

The story we wrote is about a person called Skylar.

The story and the people in it are not real.

We made them up to explain stalking.

A person that Skylar works with has started asking her lots of questions.

At first, they asked Skylar questions about:

• her disability
• the wheelchair she uses.

Then they asked her other questions, like:

• if she has a partner
• if she lives by herself
• how she gets home from work.

They also started to leave notes on Skylar’s desk.

All these things made Skylar feel uncomfortable.

They started to talk about things that Skylar did after work.

Even though Skylar did not tell anyone about what she did.

One day Skylar noticed that they were following her home from work.

She tried to:

• ignore them
• go a different way home.

But they kept following her.

Skylar turned around and asked them to stop following her.

They yelled at her, saying that they just wanted to know what she was doing.

Skylar has experienced stalking.