Midwives to help examine sexual assault victims in SA to reduce wait times

Midwives in South Australia will now be able to conduct forensic examinations in sexual assault cases, in a bid to reduce lengthy wait times for victim-survivors. The new regulations are now in effect, following a recommendation in the state's Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence.

Attorney-General Kyam Maher said the change was necessary, particularly in regional areas where there is a shortage of medical practitioners and registered nurses to conduct examinations. "What the Royal Commission noted was particularly in regional areas there often isn't enough medical practitioners or registered nurses to conduct examinations in the case of sexual assault," Mr Maher said.

"Midwives who go through the appropriate training will be able to conduct examinations in sexual assault cases, making sure that there are more people right around SA that victim-survivors can go to … at these really horrific and horrifying times." Mr Maher said timeliness in collecting evidence in sexual assault cases was crucial. "To make sure that the evidence is as strong as it can be and doesn't degrade or deteriorate," he said.

"But also for the victim-survivor, often after sexual assault cases you can't wash, you often don't change clothes... so to do it very quickly is important …. for the wellness of victim-survivors." SA Health currently has nine government-trained forensic examiners in Adelaide and three in regional areas.

Advocate Abbey Hardie, who has lived experience with sexual violence, welcomed the reform. "Midwives often have experience with very vulnerable and emotionally heavy situations where they are having to use these trauma-informed lenses," Ms Hardie said.

Ms Hardie said the previous number of trained staff - 12 in the state - was not enough to support victim-survivors. "It's really shocking that for such a huge state we only have 12 people who can perform this really intense … medical procedure," she said.

Ms Hardie said in her experience she did not seek a forensic examination. "I think the main barrier that prohibited me from seeking treatment, as well as going through any legislative procedure, was it not feeling like sexual assault," she said.

"It took me quite a while to come to terms with the reality that I had been raped." Ms Hardie said with more staff available, it provided victim-survivors more autonomy on who can perform the examination.

Health Minister Blair Boyer said midwives can undertake 40 hours of training, which will be provided by the state's government sexual assault service, Yarrow Place. "I'm confident that is going to really bolster the workforce, reduce any wait times, reduce the need for people to travel long distances around South Australia," Mr Boyer said.

Mary Leaker from the state's peak body for domestic, family and sexual violence services, Embolden, said the limited number of trained regional staff highlighted the need to expand the pool of examiners.

"This is a really important step in improving wellbeing and justice outcomes for victim-survivors of sexual assault, no matter where they live across the state," Ms Leaker said.

Ms Leaker said it was essential to monitor the reform's impact by examining data provided by SA Health.