Regional health services in Hume and the Loddon Mallee will be set up to respond better to people experiencing family violence.
Hundreds of hospital staff will be trained to identify signs of family violence and help patients experiencing harm to seek support as part of a $1.2 million state funded initiative.
Training will be offered to help staff at 14 Victorian health services better support their clients.
Health minister Jill Hennessy announced that funding for the Strengthening Hospital Responses for Family Violence initiative will increase from $250,000 to more than $1.2 million this financial year.
Ms Hennessy said the initiative, now in its third phase, recognises the vital role that health services play in recognising and responding to family violence.
“For many people, their doctor is someone they respect and trust,” Ms Hennessy said.
“Doctors and nurses may be the first person someone experiencing harm will speak to – or the first person to see the signs of violence.”
The new funding delivers on recommendation 95 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
This requires a ‘whole-of-hospital service model’ be developed to respond to family violence in public hospitals within three to five years.
Health service staff will be trained to notice the signs of domestic violence, inquire sensitively, respond respectfully and provide pathways to specialist family violence support services, with the aim of earlier identification and quicker referral to services.
Housing, disability and ageing minister Martin Foley said three new training modules would also be developed, focusing on elder abuse, sexual assault, and rural and remote communities.
Separate funding will also support a fourth module focusing on children.
“We are working with our healthcare workers to ensure they have the right skills to equip them to provide the best care and response to elderly Victorians who are experiencing family violence,” Mr Foley said.
As part of the project’s second phase, a free tool kit was developed by the Royal Women’s Hospital and Bendigo Health, in partnership with advocacy group Our Watch, to improve responses of health service staff in preventing, identifying and responding compassionately to people experiencing family and domestic violence.
It features resources such as presentations, policies, procedures and guidelines that assist healthcare workers to identify and support people experiencing family violence, and refer them to the most appropriate services.
