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Self-Collected Forensic DNA Swabs

Proposal Summary

This proposal explores a trauma-informed, survivor-centred self-collection forensic swab to provide survivors with autonomy during the process of preserving evidence after sexual assault.

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The current forensic evidence collection process following sexual assault can be invasive, distressing, and retraumatising for many survivors. For some survivors, the fear of undergoing a hospital-based forensic examination can become a barrier to seeking help, preserving evidence, or engaging with reporting processes at all. Survivors often face these decisions while in a state of acute trauma, and the existing system does not always provide enough autonomy, flexibility, or emotional safety to meet the diverse needs of survivors.

This proposal explores whether a self-collected forensic swab could provide an additional option for evidence preservation alongside existing forensic pathways, not to replace clinician-led care, but to offer more choice and accessibility for survivors who may otherwise avoid the process entirely. The concept involves a simple self-collection kit with instructions, that would allow survivors to preserve potential DNA evidence themselves following an initial disclosure.

I believe this idea is worthwhile because it focuses on reducing barriers and giving survivors more control during an incredibly vulnerable time. Self-collection approaches are already used successfully in other areas of healthcare, including HPV screening, where I currently work, where they have improved accessibility, participation, including among marginalised communities that were traditionally underrepresented, and patient autonomy. I believe there is value in exploring whether similar principles could help improve survivor experiences in this space, particularly as Early Evidence Kits (EEKs) are largely inaccessible to most survivors within current procedures and regulations. 

I have experienced the psychological impacts of current DNA testing first hand. When I was sixteen years old (2020), I was sexually assaulted, made the decision to report this assault to the police, and was asked to undergo forensic examination as a part of the investigation. While many healthcare professionals work incredibly hard to support survivors, current forensic processes can still feel invasive, distressing, and retraumatising for some people, and from first hand experience, as well as discussions with other survivors of sexual assault, I know that clinician-led DNA collection has the potential to retraumatise survivors, as it did for me. I am pursuing this work because I know firsthand how different my experience may have felt if a self-collected forensic test option had existed for sixteen-year-old me. 

Most importantly, this proposal is grounded in determining how we can support survivors while still preserving opportunities for justice, as they should not be mutually exclusive. Survivors are not always adequately supported or centred within current reporting and forensic processes, but this is one, relatively simple way, that we can make this incredibly difficult process, somewhat easier for survivors. Importantly, this proposal is exploratory and would require extensive survivor consultation, ethical oversight, and research before any implementation.

I have began discussions with SASVic in investigating whether a self-collected DNA test would be feasible and beneficial for survivors of sexual assault across all demographics, including in marginalised communities. I have spoken with Jacqueline Bell, the Justice, Rights and Equity Manager at SASVic, and we are in the early stages of developing this project further. However, the support of your panel, particularly as survivors of sexual assault, would be incredibly beneficial in the development of this project. The technology already exists, and from a scientific point of view, creating a self-collected swab is more than feasible. I have attached my proposal for this project below. Thank you for taking the time to read my proposal, and for your work in cultivating positive change in our community by advocating for survivors of sexual assault. 

• Forensic medical examinations