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Sexual Assault and Family Violence
Outpatients
Sexual Assault Forensic Examination (SAFE) services are a free 24-hour service available to assist anyone affected by sexual assault, rape and/or family violence within 7 days of the assault.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
Laurel House
Phone: 03 6334 2740
After hours: 1800 MYSUPPORT (1800 697 877)
North West
Laurel House
Phone: 03 6431 9711
After hours: 1800 MYSUPPORT (1800 697 877)
South
Sexual Assault Support Service
Phone: 03 6231 0044
After hours: 1800 697 877
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
SAFE examiner are fully qualified doctors, nurses and/or midwives, who have additional training in the field of forensic evidence gathering. We provide care sensitive to the needs of the person following a sexual assault.
In the Southern and Northern Regions SAFE examiners can also document and photograph injuries sustained as a result of family violence. This service is provided during business hours but enquiries can be made at any time.
In the North West Region SAFE examiners can provide full adult forensic and medical examinations, including the recording of injuries. Any photographs required are undertaken by Tasmania Police.
Ongoing support can be provided by:
- Family Violence Counselling and Support Service (Statewide)
- Laurel House (North and North West)
- Sexual Assault Support Service (South)
Referral process
SAFE services can be accessed through:
- the Department of Emergency Medicine,
- the Sexual Assault Support Service,
- Laurel House, or
- Tasmania Police.
For any paediatric cases in the North West, please refer to Launceston.
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
