Education and training

The SARC Education and Training team provides education opportunities for professionals, volunteers and students in Western Australia.
Education opportunities
- e-learning
- face-to-face presentations
- remote presentations
- generic training
- training for doctors and health workers
- customised training
Refer to the Overview of SARC Education Opportunities (PDF).
Fees
Most of SARC’s education sessions are delivered free to government and not for profit organisations.
Full day workshops and customised training sessions incur a fee.
Request a SARC education session
Email the Education and Training team on SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au.
Non-medical education
E-learning

Sexual trauma and responding to disclosures of sexual assault (external site)
- Available on the SARC website
- 2-2.5 hours duration
- Free of charge
- Includes 2 quiz sections
- Certificate issued on completion
Remote presentations
Delivered via Microsoft Teams.
- Sexual Assault and Responding to Disclosures – general 1 hour (PDF)
- Trauma Informed Health Care - 1 hour (PDF)
- The Impact of Trauma - 1 hour (PDF)
- Building on Trauma Knowledge - 1 hour (PDF)
- Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care (PDF)
Note: recording is not permitted.
Open Online Presentations
The following sessions will be offered online to individual workers and teams.
To register your interest, email SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au stating ‘Open online session’ and the date of the session in the subject line of the email, and state your job role in the email. You will be forwarded MS Teams details approximately 2 weeks before the event. Please send a separate email for each session you are registering for.
- Impact of Trauma - open session
1 March 2023, 2pm to 3pm
2 August 2023, 3.30pm to 4.40pm
- Responding to Disclosures - open session
4 April 2023, 9am to 10am
5 September 2023, 3.30pm to 4.30pm
- Trauma Informed Health Care- open session
10 May 2023, 1pm to 2pm
10 October 2023, 9am to 10am
- Vicarious Trauma and Self Care - open session
6 June 2023, 1pm to 2.30pm
15 November 2023, 9am to 10.30am
Face-to-face presentations
- Responding to Disclosures with Skills Rehearsal - 2 hours (PDF)
- Vicarious Trauma and Self-Care - 2 hours (PDF)
- Student leader training for university student leaders – 2 hours (PDF)
Note: a minimum of 10 and maximum of 35 participants.

Metro full day face-to-face workshops
- 24 March 2023: Trauma Overview (PDF) | Registration form (Word)
- 5 May 2023: Trauma Counselling Skills (PDF) | Registration form (Word)
- 15 September 2023: Trauma Overview (PDF) | Registration form (Word)
- 27 October 2023: Trauma Counselling Skills (PDF) | Registration form (Word)
Regional full day face-to-face workshops
Costs must be covered by the regional service.
Contact the SARC Education and Training Coordinator to discuss your request SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au.
Customised training
Contact the SARC Education and Training Coordinator to discuss your request SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au.
Medical education
SARC doctors offer a variety of training regarding the medical and forensic aspects of responding to a recent adolescent or adult sexual assault. Fees are associated with some training events.
Metropolitan Hospital presentations
- Emergency management of sexual assault for metro health workers.
Includes psychosocial, medical and forensic management, using Early Evidence Kits (EEKs) and case discussions.
3 hours at SARC in Subiaco - Condensed - Emergency management of sexual assault for metro ED workers.
1 hour at metro hospitals
- Using Early Evidence Kits (EEKs) in ED
2 hours at metro hospitals or at SARC in Subiaco
Please email SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au with your request.
Presentations for students and other agencies
The SARC medical forensic team can provide presentations at GP events and to students and other agencies such as WA Police, DPP, SJA and others. Please email SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au with your request. A fee may be associated with attendance.
Remote presentations
Delivered periodically via Microsoft Teams.
Regular topics include:
- Responding to sexual assault
- Using SARC forensic kits (including EEKs)
- Forensic case studies
Forensic Training Program
- 3 full days
- Suitable for regional doctors, nurses, midwives
- Covers skills and knowledge required to deliver medical care and perform a forensic examination with the collection of forensic specimens
- Written assessment included
- Successful participants will be qualified to collect forensic specimens following sexual assault as approved by WA legislation, Criminal Investigation Act Amendment 2011.
The Forensic Training Program is offered in Perth approximately once each year for regional nurses, midwives and doctors. Depending on staffing and resources, courses can occasionally be offered in regional locations. The WACHS location is required to cover costs.
Forensic Training Program 2023 - March 7, 8, 9 (PDF)
Please email SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au with your Expressions of Interest (Word) for the next available course.
E-learning

Sexual trauma and responding to disclosures of sexual assault (psychosocial focus) (external site)
- Available on the SARC website
- 2-2.5 hours duration
- Free of charge
- Includes 2 quiz sections
- Certificate issued on completion
Non-fatal Strangulation (NFS) (external site)
- Suitable for medical, nursing and allied health staff
- Includes information on medical and forensic assessment and management of NFS
- Addresses safety risks when NFS occurs in the context of domestic violence
- Consists of 7 modules, containing short videos
- Modules can be accessed independently of each other
To access the package, please email SARCTraining@health.wa.gov.au stating the package you are requesting access to, your job role, employer and location.
Non-Fatal Strangulation Presentation 2023 - March 10 (PDF)
Using a SARC Early Evidence Kit (EEK)
- Available in 2023