Summary
- Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service is proud to launch a dedicated, compassionate and culturally safe sexual assault service that will support vulnerable members of our communities.
- The service will be launched later this year after TCHHS successfully obtained more than $2.2 million funding over four years as part of the State Government’s Sexual Assault Reform Program.
Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service is proud to launch a dedicated, compassionate and culturally safe sexual assault service that will support vulnerable members of our communities.
The service will be launched later this year after TCHHS successfully obtained more than $2.2 million funding over four years as part of the State Government’s Sexual Assault Reform Program.
The team will be made up of a Clinical Nurse Consultant, a social worker and an Advanced Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker who are expertly trained in supporting victim-survivors of sexual assault in a culturally appropriate manner.
The team will work directly with staff based at hospitals and Primary Health Care Centres across the Health Service and assist them to access appropriate support services.
The launch of the new service follows a sharp increase across the Health Service in nurses having completed the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner course to provide greater support to those in our communities.
TCHHS Acting Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Services Jacob Walsh said this was an exciting development in Torres and Cape HHS’s service capability and would provide compassion and dignity to those requiring this service.
“I think we have an obligation to stand up a service that cares for those who disclose sexual assault and ensures they are linked in with appropriate support agencies,” he said.
“We are also focused on ensuring cultural safety is at the forefront of the service we deliver.
“This new service will provide high level clinical expertise to support staff on the ground across the region.
“It is not only an opportunity to build the capacity of our own staff but also ensures TCHHS is in line with national standards and meeting legal requirements.”
TCHHS Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke said the funding built upon the Health Service’s existing capability.
“We understand the trauma associated with disclosing this type of offending and we want to ensure we can provide the best and most appropriate support possible, regardless of where you live,” he said.
“This service is another example of our focus on bringing care closer to home, not only with these additional roles, but by encouraging our staff to enhance their skills to support their communities.”
Background
TCHHS is able to offer a 24-hour a day forensic sexual assault examination at all our hospitals.
Our doctors and nurses carrying out an examination can be supported by Indigenous Health Workers as required to ensure a cultural safe service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
In the Torres and Cape region, we have Senior Medical Officers (SMOs) who can use the new Forensic Medical Examination Kit and Forensic Medical Examination Record to undertake a forensic sexual assault examination.
Our SMOs are located at Thursday Island Hospital, Bamaga Hospital, Weipa Integrated Health Service, Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service and at Badu Island Primary Health Care Centre.
Even if a doctor has not done the specific Forensic Medical Examination training, all our SMOs are still able to undertake a forensic sexual assault examination for all victim-survivors aged 14 years and upwards, with 24/7 telehealth support and advice from the Department of Health’s Forensic Medicine Queensland unit, which can walk them through an examination as required.
In the case of sexual assault victim-survivors under the age of 14, under Queensland Health guidelines, they should be examined by a clinician with appropriate paediatric skills. This is usually at Cairns Hospital, or the Queensland Children’s Hospital.