Assessment of Suspected Sexual Abuse in Children and Adolescents (ASAC)

The Starship annual training course for clinicians working in the area of child and adolescent sexual abuse is on again in March 2026. For many years, this course has been equally attended by advanced trainees and paediatricians from Australia and New Zealand, and we have a lot of positive feedback from Australian trainees who find it very useful. We always look forward to welcoming our Australian colleagues to Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

This course qualifies towards the requirements of RACP advanced training in general and community paediatrics, but the course is not just for paediatricians. We strongly recommend it for any medical practitioner, nurse or allied health professional who provides (or may provide) clinical services in this area. The course aims to train, support and resource the whole spectrum of such clinicians.

The course is now hybrid: 30 hours of online pre-learning (available a month before the face-to-face course and remaining available for the following 12 months), followed by two days of live face-to-face teaching (with a virtual registration option). We currently have a roughly 50:50 mix of delegates attending remotely and in person, and this format is working very well, with lots of positive feedback.

For those in more remote areas of Australia or the Pacific, or anywhere in the world with compatible time zones, virtual attendance is very achievable.

In Aotearoa New Zealand, the course is recognised by MEDSAC as one part of the accreditation pathway for those wishing to provide child and adolescent sexual assault services under the SAATS (Sexual Abuse Assessment and Treatment Services) contract.

Register

Location

Clinical Education Centre, Auckland City Hospital, 2 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland (or online)