You choose that you want to go the Emergency Department.

If you are in immediate danger or you are severely hurt, you should phone Triple Zero (000). If you are injured or hurt, you should go to the emergency department at your local hospital.

If you present at a public hospital Emergency Department and you tell the person that you have been sexually assaulted, you should be seen and cared for within 10 minutes, where possible.

The Emergency Department can help you by providing information and referrals to free counselling and support and medical care.

If you don’t have Medicare, you can still access medical care.

From 28 June 2024, victim-survivors of sexual violence and / or domestic and family violence who are not eligible for Medicare can access free health care in relation to an experience of sexual violence or domestic and family violence. Further information is available on the Queensland Health website.

Treating injuries

If you have sustained any physical injuries from the sexual violence, the emergency department will treat your injuries. This includes talking about emergency contraception if you think you may be at risk of pregnancy, as well as talking to you about the risk of any sexually transmitted infection (STIs)  and offering you screening for STIs.

Collecting evidence

The hospital might offer you the option to collect evidence from your body — this is called a medical examination or a forensic medical examination. A medical examination is a forensic examination and will be performed by a qualified person who will collect evidence from your body, hair and clothes. The examiner will talk to you about the process and ask for your consent in writing before doing a medical examination.

A medical examination is not the same as being treated for your injuries. If you do not want to collect evidence from your body, you can still be treated for any injuries.

If you are still deciding whether to report the sexual violence:

• Just because you have a medical examination, does not mean you have to make a complaint to Police
• You can have a medical examination and decide to make a complaint to police later
• Any evidence collected is stored, untested for up to 24 months.

If you think you are going to make a complaint to police, the hospital might call a police officer who will come and speak to you at the hospital.

Support services

The hospital should refer you to a sexual assault support service or social work service.

They should provide you information about how you can access support services such as counselling. They should tell you about the state-wide Sexual Assault Helpline (1800 010 120).