​Family violence

Starting the conversation can be challenging, but health professionals are well-placed to do so. With the right tools and supports, they can empower victims to break their silence and seek safety.

Asking is the first step.

Let your patient know they can speak openly to you about their concerns, and that they are in a safe and confidential environment.

Questions could include:

• Is there anything else going on in your life that you’d like to talk about?
• Are your friends and family aware of what’s going on?
• Are you feeling frightened?
• Are you worried about your children’s safety?

Take any opportunity to raise the subject and ask questions. Try to ensure patients feel comfortable and safe talking to you. Consider that perhaps they might feel more comfortable talking to a different staff member and offer that opportunity.

North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) is committed to supporting primary care providers to build their confidence and capability to recognise, respond and refer disclosures of family violence.  

To achieve this, NWMPHN are funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to deliver the Primary Care Pathways to Safety program.  

The program, designed in partnership with The Safer Families Centre at the University of Melbourne, provides tailored support to general practices to improve confidence in responding to family violence, boost collaboration, and build greater cohesion and coordination across local health, social care, and family violence services. It was successfully piloted in 2019. 

NWMPHN is providing training to 30 GP clinics from 2023-2026 with grant funding available. Training places for 2024 have been filled. The next EOI will be published in early 2025.

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Primary Care Pathways to Safety is part of the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care’s ‘Improving Health System Responses to Family and Domestic Violence Primary Health Networks Pilots’. It was recently evaluated by the Sax Institute. View the report.

• Several organisations offer education and training on identifying and responding to family violence. Visit the NWMPHN events calendar to register for family violence education and training sessions hosted by NWMPHN and partners. For information about upcoming sessions subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter.
  
• Self-directed e-learning modules:
  • The Readiness Program is a suite of e-learning modules developed by the Safer Families Centre, providing evidence-based knowledge and basic skills on early engagement actions tailored for victim-survivors and their families, as well as people who use family violence. There are 7 modules available. More information.
  • The impact of family and domestic violence on the child is a course developed by National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health and delivered by Emerging Minds. The 1-hour course provides you with an introduction to the impact of family and domestic violence on children. More information.

Our family violence quality improvement (QI) templates are available for general practices to respond to the high prevalence of family violence-related presentations in primary care.

Visit our QI activity hub to download:

• Identifying people at risk of or experiencing family violence
• Increase the confidence of your practice team to identify and respond to family violence

These QI activities may provide GPs with Royal Australian College of General Practitioners continuing professional development (CPD) hours, and support practices eligible for the Practice Incentive Program Quality Improvement Incentive.

For more information or to arrange a visit please phone (03) 9347 1188 or email primarycare@nwmphn.org.au

HealthPathways Melbourne

HealthPathways Melbourne is a continuously updated clinical management and referral resource for use during consultations. It gives clinicians and health professionals a single website to access management and referral options. Some key pathways are:

• Disclosure of domestic and family violence
• Domestic and family violence community support

Pregnancy and violence  

The risk of family violence has been found to be higher in pregnant women and in the period following birth, posing serious health risks to both pregnant women and their babies. Additional pathways have been developed to support practitioners identify and refer for family violence, including: 

• Antenatal Care – First Consult
• Antenatal – Second and Third Trimester Care
• Maternal Postnatal Check

• RACGP – White Book 5^th edition.
• Safe and Equal – resource library.
• Northern Integrated Family Violence Services – Overcoming Barriers (CALD resource), a toolkit to improve responses to culturally and linguistically diverse women and children who have experienced family violence.
• NWMPHN – Primary Care Pathways to Safety Program: Case Studies.
• Victorian Government – MARAM Framework

National sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service (24-hour, 7-day helpline, information and support).

1800 737 732
1800respect.org.au

Family violence response centre (24-hours, 7-day crisis line). Usually crisis counselling, referral, support and advocacy, contact point for women’s refuges, referral to other short-term crisis accommodation.

1800 015 188
safesteps.org.au

The Orange Door welcomes everyone, regardless of migration status. You can seek help or support if you are a migrant or a refugee or do not have permanent residency.

1800 319 355
orangedoor.vic.gov.au

Services, programs and responses to issues of family violence in culturally and linguistically diverse communities. inTouch develop and implement a number of culturally sensitive and holistic models for the provision of services to both victims and perpetrators of family violence.

1800 755 988
intouch.org.au

Provides culturally safe and accessible services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people seeking support.

1800 105 303
djirra.org.au

Provides specialist family violence support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their children who are currently experiencing or have experienced family violence.

(03) 9482 5744
emhaws.org.au

Supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.

1300 726 306
panda.org.au

Free 24/7 online and phone counselling for people living, working or studying in Melbourne’s northern, central and western suburbs.

1300 096 269
careinmind.com.au

NIFVS provide workers with an understanding of the family violence system in the northern metropolitan region. It offers an introduction presentation, interviews with service providers and links to resources to help improve responses to family violence.

nifvs.org.au

No to Violence work with men who use family violence, and the sector that supports them to change their abusive and violent behaviour.

1300 766 491
ntv.org.au

Relationships Australia is a leading provider of relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.

1300 364 277
relationships.org.au

A free and confidential telephone and advisory service aimed to help prevent elder abuse and safeguard the rights, dignity and independence of senior Victorians.

1300 368 821
seniorsrights.org.au

A free specialist LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family.

1800 729 367
switchboard.org.au

Telephone counselling for children and young people.

1800 551 800
kidshelpline.com.au

Private counsellors and psychologists.

psychology.org.au

Provides all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

13 11 14
lifeline.org.au

Mental health support for all Victorians. Can help GPs find the most suitable mental health support for their patients.

1800 595 212
headtohealthvic.org.au