Our training programs
All people who have experienced family, domestic and sexual violence should receive high-quality, evidence-based and trauma-informed care when visiting their health care provider. We fund training programs and other resources to improve health workers ability to respond to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).
The Readiness Program
The Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence delivers the Readiness Program training for frontline healthcare workers. Funding for this training is until 30 June 2024. The Safer Families Centre is a partnership with:
- the University of Melbourne
- the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- the Blue Knot Foundation
- Phoenix Australia.
The White book
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) publish the White book for health professionals – Abuse and violence: working with our patients in general practice.
Australia-wide consistent resources
The National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse will develop resources to help the primary care sector to respond to sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
The first resources are available from the national centre. Work to develop further resources is in progress.
Primary Health Network training programs
Primary Health Networks (PHNs) deliver training programs for healthcare providers to better support victim-survivors:
- 11 PHNs across Australia will support a pilot for family, domestic, sexual violence and child sexual abuse
- one PHN will support a pilot for family and domestic violence only.
To learn about the FDSV programs in your area contact your local Primary Health Network.
Find out more about our pilot program supporting primary care response to family, domestic and sexual violence.
What the training provides
The training programs and resources for primary care health professionals:
- provide accredited family and domestic violence training courses which are free to eligible professionals working in health care
- are delivered in many ways – online, face to face webinars and online workshops
- include whole-of-practice tailored onsite training for GPs, office managers, nurses, reception staff and allied health workers
- are available via an online training portal to complement face-to-face training delivery
- provide up-to-date and trauma-informed information for GPs on a range of family and domestic violence topics.
We have started developing pilot training programs in pilot Primary Health Networks. These will help primary care health professionals respond to:
- sexual violence
- child sexual abuse
- family and domestic violence.
More information
The Safer Families Centre of Research Excellence has created online training modules and resources as part of the program. For more information visit the Safer Families website.
Other training programs and resources listed on the Department of Social Services’ website include:
- women's safety programs
- accredited training for sexual violence responses – part of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2022–2032
- programs to reduce violence.
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