❓ Provides a breakdown of forensic nurses and medical officers employed in WA's public health system, including headcount, FTE, and allocation between metropolitan and regional areas, specifically detailing staff at SARC and SFMHS.
AnsweredQoN 289Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to forensic nurses and medical officers employed in the Western Australian public health system, and I ask, as of 1 June 2025, for a breakdown of: (a) the total headcount and full-time equivalent; (b) the allocation in metropolitan versus regional areas; and (c) health service providers (i.e. WA Country Health Service, South Metropolitan Health Service)?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
12 August 2025
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health
Response time
6 days
(a-c)
The State Government operates both the Sexual Assault Resources Centre (SARC) and the State Forensic Mental Health Service (SFMHS), both of which are run by North Metropolitan Health Service. The SARC employs 14 doctors as Forensic Medical Officers across 3.7 FTE, two forensic nurses at one FTE and 1.4 FTE responsible for the Family and Domestic Violence Pilot funded by the Department of Justice. The SFMHS employs 116 nurses at 93.3 FTE and 18 Medical Officers at 13.1 FTE.
All SARC and SFMHS staff work within the metropolitan areas, however patients from across Western Australia can access care from these services, and regional and remote clinical staff can access support/advice.
Additionally, in regional and remote WA, sexual assault examinations are performed by doctors and nurses or midwives who have completed the SARC Forensic Training in consultation with SARC medical staff 24/7.
The State Government operates both the Sexual Assault Resources Centre (SARC) and the State Forensic Mental Health Service (SFMHS), both of which are run by North Metropolitan Health Service. The SARC employs 14 doctors as Forensic Medical Officers across 3.7 FTE, two forensic nurses at one FTE and 1.4 FTE responsible for the Family and Domestic Violence Pilot funded by the Department of Justice. The SFMHS employs 116 nurses at 93.3 FTE and 18 Medical Officers at 13.1 FTE.
All SARC and SFMHS staff work within the metropolitan areas, however patients from across Western Australia can access care from these services, and regional and remote clinical staff can access support/advice.
Additionally, in regional and remote WA, sexual assault examinations are performed by doctors and nurses or midwives who have completed the SARC Forensic Training in consultation with SARC medical staff 24/7.
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