❓ Hon Michelle Boylan asks about access to trauma-informed forensic medical examinations (FMEs) for sexual and family violence victim survivors across WA. The response details availability in metropolitan, regional, and remote areas, and outlines support mechanisms.
AnsweredQoN 1145Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Strategy 2025-2035 which commits to improve trauma-informed health responses for victim survivors, and I ask: (a) how many public hospitals currently provide 24/7 access to trauma informed forensic medical examinations for sexual and family violence victim survivors; (b) which regional and remote locations currently have arrangements in place for victim survivors to obtain forensic medical examinations; (c) please table the form that takes in each location i.e. on-site examinations, Sexual Assault Resource Centre outreach, telehealth supported pathways; (d) what is the average or expected time frame for a victim survivor in each location to receive a forensic medical examination; (e) what is the average or expected time frame for a victim survivor in Western Australia to receive a forensic medical examination; and (f) what arrangements, if any, exist to support transport, referral or clinical access when examinations can't be performed in their location?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
24 February 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
5 days
(a) All public metropolitan hospitals can provide 24/7 access to trauma informed forensic medical examinations (FMEs) for sexual violence victim survivors via the Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC).
In addition to the provision of FME for victim survivors of sexual violence, SARC provide FME for victim survivors of family violence through the Family and Domestic Violence Forensic Pilot. This service operates in the Perth metropolitan area and is available during business hours Monday to Friday.
(b) All WA Country Health Service (WACHS) regions have arrangements in place to provide forensic collection. This includes 91 WACHS sites across regional and remote Western Australia that have 24/7 access to onsite forensic collection, supported by local and regional pathways to ensure timely access to FMEs.
(c) In rural, regional and remote Western Australia, sexual and family violence victim survivors can access FMEs at public hospitals. In-person care is provided by on-site healthcare professionals with expert advice and guidance provided by SARC.
(d)-(e) Timeframes for victim survivors to receive FMEs can vary according to clinical circumstances such as the acuity of injuries and any urgent medical interventions required, the availability of relevant and forensically trained staff and the victim survivors’ individual circumstances, for example the availability of appropriate support persons, the presence of dependants, or sensitivities of the case.
Once referred to SARC, all immediate forensic medical care is generally completed within 24 hours.
(f) In the instance that a FME cannot be performed locally, the WA Police will coordinate with relevant local agencies to arrange appropriate transport to ensure timely and safe access to services.
In addition to the provision of FME for victim survivors of sexual violence, SARC provide FME for victim survivors of family violence through the Family and Domestic Violence Forensic Pilot. This service operates in the Perth metropolitan area and is available during business hours Monday to Friday.
(b) All WA Country Health Service (WACHS) regions have arrangements in place to provide forensic collection. This includes 91 WACHS sites across regional and remote Western Australia that have 24/7 access to onsite forensic collection, supported by local and regional pathways to ensure timely access to FMEs.
(c) In rural, regional and remote Western Australia, sexual and family violence victim survivors can access FMEs at public hospitals. In-person care is provided by on-site healthcare professionals with expert advice and guidance provided by SARC.
(d)-(e) Timeframes for victim survivors to receive FMEs can vary according to clinical circumstances such as the acuity of injuries and any urgent medical interventions required, the availability of relevant and forensically trained staff and the victim survivors’ individual circumstances, for example the availability of appropriate support persons, the presence of dependants, or sensitivities of the case.
Once referred to SARC, all immediate forensic medical care is generally completed within 24 hours.
(f) In the instance that a FME cannot be performed locally, the WA Police will coordinate with relevant local agencies to arrange appropriate transport to ensure timely and safe access to services.
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