Wednesday, 5 June 2019

 Ms EDWARDS (Bendigo West) (09:39): Patients in Victorian public hospitals will get the support they need if they are experiencing family violence, with new funding to train health workers in spotting the signs and offering help. I was pleased to join the Minister for Prevention of Family Violence to announce the funding on Monday at Bendigo Health.

The Victorian budget this year includes a $7.8 million boost to the Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence initiative. Under the initiative more than 28 000 healthcare workers in Victorian public hospitals have already been trained to identify and support patients experiencing family violence, learning to recognise warning signs, responding sensitively and respectfully and connecting victims to services that they need. Healthcare workers are often the first to see signs of violence, so it is crucial they have the tools to identify victims and connect them to the services and support that they need. The Andrews Labor government is investing $38.4 million over five years to deliver the Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence initiative in response to recommendation 95 of the Royal Commission into Family Violence.

Family violence, as we know, is a national emergency, with one woman murdered at the hands of a current or former partner every week, and it is the leading cause of death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 to 44. When it comes to addressing family violence Victoria has led the way, with the landmark royal commission that brought down 227 recommendations; the Andrews Labor government has committed to fulfilling all of them, with more than half completed already. Family violence is indeed a national crisis, and we need the whole community’s help in preventing violence and providing help for victims.