Sexual Assault Services

System Capacity to provide care for victims of sexual assault

Queensland Health is committed to ensuring that every victim of sexual assault has access to timely and high-quality care, including forensic examination services, no matter where they live.

When a person presents to a Queensland Health facility disclosing sexual assault, they will be accepted into care and commenced on the most appropriate care pathway. Care pathways differ across Hospital and Health Services, in recognition of individual needs, locality, and models of care. Underlying all care pathways is an emphasis on providing compassionate and trauma-informed care that meets the individual needs of victims, which may include a Forensic Medical Examination.

The capacity of our system to provide care for victims of sexual assault is presented below.

How is capacity defined?

There are three main elements which reflect the capacity of the system to provide care for people disclosing sexual assault, regardless of when and where they present for care:

Kits – the availability of Forensic Medical Examination Kits state-wide
Training – ensuring a sufficiently trained and supported clinical workforce
Models of Care - dedicated coordinator positions and place-based models of care

If you have been sexually assaulted recently or in the past and would like assistance, you can contact any of the following for support:

13HEALTH for localized information
Queensland Police 000 for emergencies, or non-emergency contact Policelink on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000
Statewide Sexual Assault Helpline 1800 010 120
1800 Respect, 24 hour sexual assault and domestic violence support.

Availability of Forensic Medical Examination Kits

The supply and distribution of Forensic Medical Examination Kits has been established, with kits available within every Hospital and Health Service state-wide. Queensland Health manages central supply of the kits and has approximately 500 kits available across the state at any given time.

Kits are available for ordering in line with the standard approach for all hospital consumables. Each Hospital and Health Service manages restocking according to need. The location and storage of individual kits aligns with the local place-based pathways of care.

Kits will be sourced for any victim who requires a Forensic Medical Examination.

A sufficiently trained and supported clinical workforce

Queensland Health has developed the Forensic Examiner Training Program to support clinicians to provide forensic medical examinations throughout Queensland. This program involves completion of a series of online modules, followed by a face-to-face workshop and practical skills sessions, and is guided by the Forensic Medicine Queensland Education Strategy.

The program aims to build capability and confidence amongst clinicians to perform person-centred and trauma informed care, including provision of forensic medical examinations across Queensland.

The training program also supports best practice, multidisciplinary approaches to care for victims, including nurse-led models of care.

A 24/7 telephone support line staffed by highly skilled and qualified Forensic Physicians is available to any clinician performing a forensic medical examination.

Dedicated coordinator positions and place-based models of care

All Hospital and Health Services have been provided with funding to establish new, ongoing positions to form a central team. The central team will supplement existing resources and help to coordinate and oversee local models of care for victims of sexual assault. These roles include both nursing and psychosocial support. Recruitment to these new positions has commenced and will continue throughout the first half of 2025.

Pathways of care will vary in each HHS but have been developed in line with the Sexual Assault Services Framework. The Framework determines the minimal requirements for acute sexual assault services, including the need to provide psychosocial support, and highlights the importance of local links with a multiagency team.

The Office of the Chief Medical Officer is providing advice and support for all sites as they further develop and formalise their local models of care, in line with the Sexual Assault Services Framework, with oversight provided by the multi-agency Sexual Assault Reform Oversight Committee, established in late 2024.

Last updated: February 2025