Tuesday, 28 November 2023

Ministers statements: family violence

Mary-Anne THOMAS (Macedon – Leader of the House, Minister for Health, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Minister for Ambulance Services) (14:28): I rise today to update the house on the Allan Labor government’s work to address family violence through our healthcare system. Family violence remains our state’s number one law and order issue, but it is also a significant health issue. We know that intimate partner violence is the leading health risk for women aged 25 to 44 years. This is totally unacceptable. We also know that 80 per cent of victim-survivors will seek help for family violence from our health services, so it is critically important that we give our healthcare workers the tools they need to provide help.

That is why the Allan Labor government has been at the forefront of working to tackle family violence. Led by the Royal Women’s Hospital and Bendigo Health, our government’s Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence program is equipping healthcare workers across the state with the skills that they need to identify and support people experiencing family violence. Through the program clinicians and non-clinicians receive tailored training to understand the gendered nature and dynamics of family violence, recognise and address barriers that impact support and safety options, respond to disclosures sensitively and prioritise the safety of victim-survivors.

We know that our healthcare workers have embraced these reforms because they want to make a difference. In 2022–23, 82,000 training courses were completed right across the health sector. This includes in settings like maternal and child health and paediatrics. I want to thank and acknowledge our healthcare workers for the work that they do every day to support victim-survivors of family violence and the way in which they continue to grow their capabilities to meet the needs of victim-survivors.