Support after sexual harm or violence

Sexual harm or violence can impact anyone regardless of:

Age
Gender
Sexuality
Ethnicity
Social background
Socioeconomic status

After a sexual assault or harm there are many types of care available to you. The important thing is that you get to decide what's right for you.

In this article:

The Pohutukawa Clinic Therapeutic appointments Forensic appointments Just-in-case appointments Counselling services and therapy referrals Other support options

The Pohutukawa Clinic

The Pohutukawa Clinic is a free, specialist medical service for anyone age 18 or over who has been sexually assaulted or abused. It has a dedicated team of doctors and nurses with specialist training in sexual assault care and forensic medicine who will see you, regardless of gender, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability or residency status.

You are in control of what happens in the clinic. they will explain what they can offer, and then you can decide what you do and do not want to do.

For an appointment or advice:

Phone: 0800 345 695
Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

Therapeutic appointments

These can be booked at the Pohutukawa Clinic. They are for healthcare after sexual assault or sexual harm (they can be booked immediately, or any time since it happened) and provide care for any injuries or worries about your body.

You'll be assessed for risk of infections such as STIs and HIV and will be provided with appropriate treatment where necessary.

Please note: HIV Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is most effective when it’s started as soon as possible and within the first 72 hours.

Pregnancy prevention is available if appropriate, and you can be referred to other services if needed.

Forensic appointments

If you have already talked to the Police, they might offer you a Forensic Appointment at the Pohutukawa clinic.

If you decide you want evidence collection, it is important to be seen as soon as possible.

After an oral or anal assault, evidence can be collected within 48 hours.
After a vaginal assault, evidence can be collected within 7 days.

You will be asked about what happened by clinicians with the option to have a counsellor present, or a friend or whānau member as support person.

Examinations can range from swabbing the body, collecting clothing, to more intimate genital exams. You get to decide what parts of your body you are okay with being examined, and forensic care is always provided alongside therapeutic care.

For the best evidence collection, avoid showering, douching, changing or removing clothes, and brushing your hair or teeth. Try to use the bathroom as little as possible.

Just-in-case appointments

This kind of appointment at the Pohutukawa Clinic is for when you decide you want evidence collected but are not yet sure about talking to the Police and need some time to think about it, and what that means for you.

The evidence collected by the clinicians is safely stored until you have decided how you want to move forward - ‘just in case’ you need it for future proceedings.

Time is of the essence when it comes to evidence testing, which is why this service is a crucial option.

Please note: For anal assault, the most accurate evidence is gathered in the first 48 hours after the incident.

Counselling services and therapy referrals

Unlike some of the forensic care, there is no time limit on accessing support for counselling and therapy.

When you get in touch with the Pohutukawa Clinic, they will connect you to an appropriate crisis support agency that offers support and counselling, and can make a referral for more long-term therapy with ACC.