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Make forensic medical exams part of the public system

Proposal Summary

VIC is the only state where forensic medical exams are controlled by a private org, VIFM. The gov should set up a forensic medicine service in the public health system to expand access to FMEs.

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It's unnecessarily difficult for victim survivors to access timely forensic medical exams in Victoria, meaning they miss out on valuable evidence of their assault. The government can't do much about this because FMEs are controlled by a private organisation contracted by Victoria Police. If Victoria set up a public forensic medicine service (like what already exists in NSW and QLD), we could have more transparency, accountability and control over what's going on. More health professionals should be able to conduct FMEs in more locations so that victim survivors can have evidence of what happened to them, if they want to. 

• Forensic medical examinations