Bali police arrested a local man over attempted rape of a 9-year-old Australian girl who is vacationing in Indonesia with her family.

The man, an employed driver at the Kuta villa where the girl and her parents were staying, was arrested after the alleged sexual assault took place around 9pm on Sunday.

According to police, the driver walked into the young girl's room and snatched her from her bed, still asleep. The girl's room was reportedly left unlocked. The suspect allegedly carried the child to a nearby vacant lot and undressed her. The girl had been half awake and thought she was with her father. When she fully woke up to the man's assault, she screamed for help. The suspect panicked, fled to his room and pretended to be asleep.

Authorities have seized the 33-year-old suspect's clothes and the young girl's pyjamas for tests.

The girl's family is reportedly from Byron Bay area in northern NSW. They have been in the villa for several days, and remain in Bali for the completion of police process.

"Australian consular officials are providing assistance to the girl's family," the Foreign Affairs Department said in a statement.

It is understood the girl was asked to identify her attacker from a line-up of suspects. She reportedly singled out a man who was wearing a pontytail, the ABC reported.

Reports indicate the case filed against the suspect is related to "attempted rape."

The media awaits official statements from the girl's family, although they are not likely to be named to protect the child's interest.

Police will release details of DNA findings, and the Aussie family might have to stay in Indonesia until investigations have been completed.

The only reported evidence against the suspect so far is that the young girl remembered him wearing a ponytail. If the DNA findings indicated the suspect had prints on the victim's clothing, and vice versa, the case will proceed.

It is understood the young victim is receiving professional counseling for her fright and trauma.

Story Highlights:

- A man snatched the 9-year-old girl from her bed while she was asleep, and took her to a vacant lot nearby.
- The girl screamed for help before the man could rape her.
- Bali police has arrested a suspect.
- The suspect is an employed the driver of the villa in which the girl was staying with her parents.
- The Foreign Affairs Department has issued a statement saying the girl and her family are being given assistance after the incident.