Page 714 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
perpetrator are calculated, well thought through and not accidental. That is what I find most menacing about her explanations.
In order to assess what more we can do here, I started asking questions of and listening to those with lived experience as survivors themselves, or bystanders and friends of survivors. It quickly became apparent to me that there are three major issues we face in having the best service for the appropriate support of those not involving the police and for the correct collection of forensic samples, if that is the wish of the person who has been through the assault. Firstly, we need a single point of contact phone number available 24 hours a day, seven days a weekâideally, a really simple, easy to remember number. Secondly, we need to have it well known. We need people to know what to do and where to go as soon as possible after the assault.
Thirdly, we need to organise our system such that the experience of survivors is smooth and seamless from the moment they look for assistance to the end of counselling, and a process which can be offered. This might mean that women like Brittany in particular have more power as they consider what has happened to them, what has been done to them, and they can choose whether they want justice and a courts process and that, when it comes time to make those decisions, they have every option at their disposal to get convictions and stop abusers who exist in our system.
In our system at present we know that the best option for immediate aftermath counselling is the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, which has stood with those experiencing rape and sexual violence for generations. The next thing we know is that Canberra Hospital has a very good forensic sample collection service in the Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care service, known as FAMSAC. This service is informed by outstanding forensic medical clinicians and academics who are able to ensure that samples are taken and stored appropriately.
We also know that survivors have to give consent for samples to be collected and that all the impediments to consent have to be considered, which is why, for example, someone with alcohol in their system may not be able to give consent and may have to wait some hours before the sample can be taken. During the time waiting, it is better if survivors do not eat, wash or change their clothes, as samples might be compromised. The process of waiting in cases like this needs to be best practice and in the best location. If someone is sent home and told not to eat, change or wash, this is potentially further traumatising. Therefore, with the input of the Rape Crisis Centre, which is survivor centred, a system should be designed which gives the survivor total control and the very best options for waiting out that period.
We know that the services of FAMSAC are located at the Canberra Hospital but that people are also presenting at Calvary hospital. It is the view of some survivors and experts that I have spoken to that the set-up at Calvary is not as expert or well designed as the one at Canberra Hospital. There have been situations where those presenting at Calvary have had to go to the Canberra Hospital the next day, having not eaten or washed in between.
The system could be better, smoother and more seamless. If the service can only be provided in the best way at TCH then I would support that being the one place where
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video