Crisis support for you and your child

If your child comes into The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Emergency Department after being sexually assaulted, a Gatehouse clinician can come and provide emotional and psychological support to them and any non-offending parent/carer who attends with them, no matter what time of day.

This might include providing emotional and psychological support to you and your child, making sure your child feels safe, and they have a safe adult in their life, and talking about ongoing options such as counselling (both for them and for you as their parent/carer).  

Medical care and accessing a forensic medical examination (FME) 

Accessing medical care

If your child comes into the RCH after experiencing sexual harm, they might need medical care. This might include:

• treatment and care for any physical injuries
• Giving them any medication they might need, including emergency contraception (birth control). 
• Arranging any additional medical procedures or tests they might need, e.g. a test for a sexually transmitted infection (STI). 

Forensic medical examination

If your child has been sexually assaulted, they can choose to have a forensic medical examination (FME), or their legal guardian can choose for them if they are not able to consent themselves.  

Like reporting to the police, having one of these is your child’s/your choice. An FME might help with any enquiries into the sexual assault and might include:

• Collection of evidence (DNA)
• Photograph any injuries or physical evidence of an assault, such as cuts and bruises

A Gatehouse sexual assault worker can support you and your child through this process if you want to and can also give you more information about what will happen and answer any questions if you are not sure. 

Crisis support following sexual assault experienced by your child 

• 03 9345 6391 (Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm)
• 1800 806 292 (At night time, on weekends or on public holidays)