Innovation supports regional Queenslanders
Central Queensland University (CQU) has developed an innovative program that enables alleged sexual assault survivors to receive quality care and forensic nursing examinations from specially trained regional nurses.
Supporting the Buy Queensland procurement approach and delivering for Queensland, CQU used innovation, technology and co-design to develop a flexible training model to enable 85 registered nurses and midwives to qualify as sexual assault nurse examiners, providing regional survivors of sexual assault with timely access to support services.
The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE) program is a collaboration between CQU and Queensland Health’s Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit. The program uses a combination of eLearning and face-to-face workshops using a hyperflexible micro-credential format.
Deb Friel, Manager for the Centre for Professional Development at CQU, said previous training for nurses involved a three-day workshop in Brisbane. The flexible design of the SANE program has been key in the success of its regional delivery as the program takes into account regional nurses’ work routines and study availability.
Deb said the successful program responded to a Queensland Health 2021 directive to improve access to specialised nurses for sexual assault examination, to ensure the preservation of the chain of evidence and provide quality care to survivors.
Previously, a sexual assault survivor living regionally could travel for hours for assistance, telling their story to up to 12 people within an hour of presentation.
Using the SANE model means secondary trauma is averted as the survivor is cared for by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner in their own regional community, who becomes their ‘case manager’.
Future plans include the opportunity to develop SANE updates, for graduates to complete the program within an AQF Level 8 Graduate Certificate, and general training for remote, registered nurses, health practitioners, social workers, counsellors and court reporters.
The co-designed program delivers better access to quality training, supporting quality local jobs for regionally based nurses and midwives who have a genuine community connection, and is expected to have flow-on-effects of advancing positive social outcomes for Queensland, especially in regional communities.
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- Last updated:
- 14 March 2024