Background information

The 2022 inquiry into sexual harassment against women in the FIFO mining industry (‘Enough is Enough’ report) highlighted the prevalence of sexual assault in the mining sector and the inadequate responses to sexual assault throughout the industry.

The Sexual Assault Resource Centre (SARC) is the specialist sexual assault response service in Western Australia. SARC provides medical, forensic and counselling services to victims of sexual assault, provides statewide medical / forensic consultation to remote and regional health workers regarding sexual assault patients and advises on best practice in managing sexual assaults.

SARC agreed to collaborate with DMIRS (Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety) and the WA Police to support the WA mining industry in responding to sexual assaults.

SARC has developed specific training and kits suitable for use by the WA mining industry.

This training has been designed to be specific, accessible and sustainable. It aims to:

• educate people working in the mining industry on how to respond to someone who discloses sexual violence or assault
• provide training in responding to sexual assaults on mine sites for health responders in the mining industry
• address how to provide trauma-informed, sensitive, supportive and appropriate responses to victims; address immediate medical needs; collect and store early forensic evidence with SARC kits; outline how to refer for further care and share data.

Implementing SARC Kits on site

For those personnel responsible for implementing SARC Kits on site, further guidance is found here. This guidance is intended for use by mines sites located in Western Australia only.