Healthcare professionals providing sexual assault services in rural NSW face significant workforce challenges, with new rural health research highlighting the need for better support, training and recognition.
The study was led by Tatum Faber as part of her medical studies at Western Sydney University, working alongside UCRH researcher Dr Natalie Edmiston and colleagues.
Published in Rural and Remote Health, the paper, Sexual assault medical and forensic examiners in regional and rural New South Wales, Australia: a qualitative study of experiences impacting workforce participation, explored the experiences of doctors and nurses who provide specialist medical care and forensic examinations following sexual assault.
Researchers interviewed 13 healthcare professionals working in regional and rural NSW, identifying challenges including professional isolation, limited training opportunities, long travel distances and a lack of recognition within the broader health system.
Many participants described feeling disconnected from colleagues and excluded from decisions affecting their work. Opportunities for mentoring, professional development and peer support were also limited.
Despite these difficulties, a strong sense of responsibility to patients, colleagues and local communities motivated many to continue in their roles, sometimes at considerable personal cost.
The findings highlight the importance of strengthening rural sexual assault services through better workforce support, greater involvement of clinicians in decision-making and improved access to training and professional networks.
For people experiencing sexual assault in rural communities, access to timely medical and forensic examinations is critical to both healthcare and potential legal proceedings.
The research reinforces the need to recognise the unique challenges facing rural healthcare professionals and ensure they have the resources and support needed to deliver these essential services.
