Page 718 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
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these awful crimes are committed and people are at their most vulnerable, it is critical that the services they need to support them, protect them and help them are easy to find and to access.
Information about what to do in the event of a rape or sexual assault is currently available on both the ACT government’s Health and Community Services websites as well as the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre website. I certainly acknowledge that regular checking to ensure that public information is correct, accessible, clear and fit for purpose is always worthwhile, particularly on such important issues. Indeed, when I looked yesterday morning, the two ACT government websites actually did provide different telephone numbers. I am sure they both work. But the point that Mrs Jones is making of having one very clear number to call—I think FAMSAC actually had a different business hours and after-hours number—is something that we are certainly very happy to look at. I am advised that the directorates have already begun the process of reviewing and aligning this information. So already, Mrs Jones, we have had a positive outcome from this motion.
It is critical as well that services are in the right place to deliver the right service in the right environment. Mrs Jones’s motion talks about the Forensic and Medical Sexual Assault Care service that runs out of Canberra Hospital. I am pleased that the motion brings to the Assembly’s attention the critical importance of our expert forensic and medical services and our victim support services. FAMSAC, as it is known, based at Canberra Hospital, is a best practice service that provides a highly specialised medical service to those in times of need. The forensic medical facilities led by senior specialist in sexual health and forensic medicine Vanita Parekh AM at Canberra Hospital’s emergency department are world’s best practice, with many national and overseas clinicians—not during COVID but in normal times—visiting the unit when they are setting up their own units.
I would also note that Dr Parekh and the forensic medical unit have been heavily involved in the initial preparation and design work for the new emergency department at the Canberra Hospital expansion, at the new critical services building, to ensure that our world’s best practice team continue to have a facility that is absolutely built and fit for purpose and is sensitive and discreet for patients who are at their most vulnerable.
FAMSAC provides services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to people at both public hospitals. While it is based at Canberra Hospital, the services can be provided at Calvary. The expert team collects many types of evidence, including DNA, injury, toxicology and historical evidence. Initial advice from the experts indicates that the locations outside of Canberra and Calvary hospitals are not generally best placed to reduce the risk of DNA contamination. However, we will be happy to revisit that to ensure that we continue to have the best forensic support possible for people who are in a time of need. Our experts who run this vital service provide the best chance to build the forensic evidence base to prosecute perpetrators and bring some sense of justice to victims who choose to access this option. Both Calvary and Canberra Hospital emergency departments have processes in place to provide sexual assault patients with expert medical assessments, to ensure their health and safety prior to being referred to FAMSAC.
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