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About the initiative
We have funded Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to extend and expand an existing pilot that supports primary care services.
We provided funding to:
- establish a pilot in each state and territory to support primary care services to recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence including child sexual abuse
- develop sexual violence and child sexual abuse resources to support primary care
- evaluate the pilot.
This initiative is part of a range of measures under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Why it is important
Family, domestic and sexual violence including child sexual abuse is a national public health and welfare issue.
Victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence including child sexual abuse frequently seek care from their local primary care services. Workers often identify early signs of violence.
Providing these resources will help primary care workers to better respond to sexual violence (including child sexual abuse).
Meeting our goals
Our PHNs:
- work with primary care practices to build capacity to respond to family, domestic and sexual violence including child sexual abuse through training and provision of resources
- work with local health and service provider networks to integrate with existing services to improve coordination of services and the quality of support
- work with primary care to meet the needs of communities to reduce potential hospital attendance and admissions
- give victim-survivors clear information and referral pathways to other services like family, domestic and sexual violence support services including child sexual abuse.
Who we work with
We funded the following PHNs to conduct a family, domestic and sexual violence including child sexual abuse pilot:
- Brisbane South PHN
- Hunter New England and Central Coast (in partnership with Central and Eastern Sydney PHN and Nepean Blue Mountains PHN)
- Western Victoria PHN
- ACT PHN
- Tasmania PHN
- Adelaide PHN (in partnership with Country SA PHN)
- NT PHN
- WAPHA for a pilot in Perth South PHN.
We are funding the North Western Melbourne PHN to continue its delivery of a family domestic violence pilot program.
We have funded Mary Haines Consulting, in partnership with the Sax Institute and Peter Ninnes Consulting, to evaluate the pilot program.
We also funded the National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse to develop resources for the primary care sector.
Status
Family and domestic violence pilot activities are underway in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Sexual violence and child sexual abuse planning and co-design consultation activities will start in 2023–24.
Pilot planning and consultation activities have begun for all pilot elements in:
- the Australian Capital Territory
- the Northern Territory
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Western Australia.
Work to evaluate the pilot has started.
The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse has developed initial resources on sexual violence and child sexual abuse. These resources will support primary care. Work to develop more resources is in progress.
Learn more
The Sax Institute undertook work to evaluate the first phase of the pilot. Read their final evaluation report.
Read the Minister for Health and Aged Care’s media release.
Contact
