Welcome to Five Islands Clinic
Five Islands Clinic is not a face to face service. This site is for advice and reports related to clinical forensic medicine, sexual assault, interpretation of injury and professional behaviour.
About the Service
Dr Katherine Brown is a Sexual Health and Forensic specialist physician with over forty years of experience in these fields. She has recently ceased direct clinical services related to sexual and reproductive health and is concentrating on the provision of services related to interpersonal violence, primarily sexual assault and domestic and family violence.
This includes medical and forensic care in the public sector as well as expert reports in the private sector regarding interpretation of injury, sexual behaviours, sexual transmission of infectious disease such as HIV, syphilis, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, genital warts and herpes simplex; sexual function and professional practice by health professionals relating to allegations of inappropriate touch.
She has developed and administered educational activities for health professionals including a postgraduate unit of study in the Medical Management of Interpersonal Violence at the University of Sydney as well as undergraduate medicine teaching and GP education regarding the response to complaints of sexual assault and other sexual and reproductive health issues.
This is a service for advice and the provision of written reports.
The service provides advice to police, prosecution and defence lawyers (government and private practice) as well as health professionals. Initial consultation may be to discuss the background to a case where the caller is unsure whether there is a legitimate or appropriate explanation for an action undertaken by an individual or to request interpretation of medical records, forensic images or reports to police regarding an incident where a complainant has made a statement alleging an assault.
If a decision is made that an expert opinion is required a written report (an Expert Certificate) will be provided addressing the questions posed by the agency requesting the opinion.
If required Dr Brown will appear in court as an expert witness, whose role is to inform the court about her interpretation of the materials provided and her answers to the questions posed by the requesting agency in an impartial manner.
Contact Us
admin@fiveislandsclinic.com.au
PO Box 161 Port Kembla NSW 2505
Dr Katherine Brown
Dr Katherine Brown is a Sexual Health and Forensic specialist physician in Wollongong, NSW. She was Medical Director for Sexual Health Medicine in Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District from 1995-2025 and is currently Medical Lead for Clinical Forensic Medicine.
She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Wollongong (UOW), developed and delivered education in the Medical Management of Interpersonal Violence at the University of Sydney and has delivered a range of education programs to general practitioners in Wollongong and elsewhere. She has had medical students on placement from the University of Wollongong, GP registrars undertaking special skills and Advanced trainees from the Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine over many years with the aim of increasing knowledge and skill in her chosen fields in the medical community.
Katherine was awarded Life Fellowship of the RACP in 2023, an Outstanding Achievement Award by the Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine in 2018 and a College Medal in 2009. She was Chief Examiner for the Chapter 2016-2022 and is a past Chapter President. She is currently a member of the RCPA Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine committee.
Qualifications
Graduate Certificate in Medical Education, UOW, 2016
Fellow, Faculty of Clinical Forensic Medicine, Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA), 2014
Master of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, 2012
Fellow, Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), 2004
Master of Science (Health Policy and Management) 1998
Associate Fellow, Royal College of Medical Administrators 1996 (now retired)
Fellow, Australasian College of Sexual Health Physicians 1994
Diploma in Venereology, Monash University 1990
Diploma in Obstetrics Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 1980
MBBS, University of Sydney, 1978
Frequently Asked Questions
Initial contact by email which may be followed by a telephone conversation to discuss the issue in more detail
Decision by the requesting agency to obtain a report
Outline of the number of hours Dr Brown is likely to need for reading and reviewing materials and the preparation of the report
Discussion of the hourly rate
Acceptance of the estimated cost by the requesting agency
Letter of engagement issued by the requesting agency
Yes