MEDSAC’s success is as a result of the active involvement of our members in the governance and leadership of the work that we undertake.

We currently have five active Board Committees (detailed below):

  • Clinical Services Committee
  • Education & Training Committee
  • Information & Communication Committee
  • Membership & Accreditation Committee
  • Governance Committee

Getting involved

The activities undertaken in our committees serves the needs of our members, and delivers important clinical advice, training and support to the wider community of professionals who address the needs of people affected by sexual assault/abuse.

We welcome expressions of interest from MEDSAC Members who would like to contribute their time and energy to any of the Committees. Please contact the relevant Committee Manager for further information.

Clinical Services Committee

Key responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain, in collaboration with appropriate Government agencies, the specification of Sexual Abuse Assessment and Treatment Services (SAATS), and the service delivery framework
  • Consider and recommend to the Board any necessary changes in the SAATS specification, delivery frameworks and/or service pricing
  • Consider and recommend to the Board any necessary changes in the Medical Expert Review Group (MERG) policies or practices, delivery frameworks and/or service pricing
  • Develop and maintain a network of suitably qualified and experienced clinicians who can provide peer review and support to clinicians engaged in the preparation of medico-legal reports (MERG)
  • Develop and maintain a group of suitably qualified and experienced clinicians who can provide expert advice to the SAATS-Link Expert Advice Forum

    Committee members

    • Melanie Johns (Chair)
    • Christina Bocock
    • Christine Foley
    • Clare Healy
    • Lei Johnson
    • Susanna Kent
    • Anne Laking
    • Kim Lund
    • Gabrielle Montgomery
    • Kate Rowe

    Committee manager: Rebeccah Hibbert

    Sub-committees/working groups

    • Medical Expert Review Group (MERG)
    • Expert Advisor Forum (EAF)
    • Lead Clinicians
    • COVID-19 Updates (Project)
    • SAATS Contract
    • MER Review
    • Equity Work (Project)

      Education & Training Committee

      Key responsibilities

      • Develop and maintain MEDSAC education and training curriculum including the development of related course material and recommending appropriate education and training fees and timetables to the Board
      • Manage the annual update conference and the provision of appropriate online training and education workshops or forums
      • Implement an appropriate quality assurance framework to ensure that MEDSAC education and training programmes reflect current best practice in content and delivery

      Committee members

      • Kate Taylor (Chair)
      • Christina Bocock
      • Karen Dawson
      • Clare Healy
      • Katie McCullough
      • Gabrielle Moss
      • Rachel Roskvist
      • Jess Tucker

      Committee manager: Victoria Larbalestier (FTW & Update)
      Committee manager: Libby Doran (NFSS, MoH FV & Rainbow Focus)

      Sub-committees/working groups

      • Family Violence Education & Training Programme

          Information & Communication Committee

          Key responsibilities

          • Develop and maintain the MEDSAC Manual and ensuring appropriate member access
          • Maintain, in collaboration with other MEDSAC Committees, the SAATS-Link network including an effective governance framework and operating model, technology infrastructure and website
          • Develop and implement appropriate data capture technologies to create a secure, anonymised national database of service outcomes and relevant statistical data
          • Develop and maintain the MEDSAC Knowledgebase including:
            • Best practice guidelines and other information
            • Appropriate news and information service for members
            • Managing the MEDSAC Journal Club and Clinical Updates including the timely development and publication of relevant articles and updates
          • Recommend relevant research projects to obtain funding and facilitate the effective management of those projects

          Committee members

          • Tony Chamberlain (Chair)
          • Jill McIlraith
          • Briar Rowsell
          • Jess Tucker

          Committee manager: Hayley Samuel

          Sub-committees/working groups

          • Knowledgebase Group - Publications & Research Sub-Committee
            • Journal Club
            • Research Projects
            • MEDSAC History (Project)
          • Knowledgebase Group - MEDSAC Manual Sub-Committee
            • Manual reviews & updates
          • InfoSystems Sub-Committee
            • SAATSdata & NFSSASdata
            • eMER - MEK/MER Review (Project)
          • Communications Sub-Committee
            • Marketing
            • Website
            • Newsletters
            • Media Management
            • Speakers & Forums Programme

                Membership & Accreditation Committee

                Key responsibilities

                • Develop and maintain the MEDSAC membership policies and practices including membership requirements, admission and retirement processes, continuing education requirements and membership information systems and access policies
                • Manage the membership admissions and retirement processes and any related peer review processes on behalf of the Board
                • Advise the Board on all matters relating to MEDSAC membership

                Committee members

                • Debbie Harrison (Chair)
                • Jenny Corban
                • Lucy Halsey
                • Beena Hegde
                • Meera Raithatha
                • Courtney Schauer

                Committee manager: Lisa Currie

                Sub-committees/working groups

                • Paediatric Working Group
                • Nurse Pathway
                • Mentoring Group

                Governance Committee

                Key responsibilities

                • Review and maintain MEDSAC'™s governance arrangements as defined in the Rules of MEDSAC and the Charter
                • Provide assurance to the Board in respect of the integrity of financial management including the effectiveness of management and internal control and compliance frameworks, practices and reporting and financial policies, practices and reporting
                • Develop and monitor, on behalf of the Board, the MEDSAC risk management policies, practices and reporting
                • Oversee and appraise the focus and quality of the external audit and any internal audit projects as required
                • Manage, in consultation with the Board, the employment relationships with the Managers including their appointment, remuneration, performance development and retirement
                • Develop and monitor, in consultation with the Boards and the Managers, the strategic agenda
                • Facilitate the annual performance review of the Board (collectively and individually) and Board Committees

                Committee members

                • Rose Percival (Chair)
                • Tony Chamberlain
                • Julia Fink
                • Annette Milligan
                • Susan Reader (rotating board member position)
                • Kate Taylor

                Committee manager: Laura Papp

                Sub-committees/working groups

                • Māori Engagement Group