The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the National Boards have committed to strengthen the health workforce’s ability to recognise and respond to family domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).
In a joint statement, Ahpra, the National Boards and Accreditation Authorities said regulatory frameworks will be updated to clarify expectations of health practitioners and ensure consistent, appropriate responses to FDSV across the health professions.
Ahpra said approximately one in five women who experience violence from a current or former partner turn to a general practitioner or other health professional for advice or support.
Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said this makes health practitioners uniquely positioned to support victim-survivors and help address family violence.
Health practitioners are often the first – and sometimes the only – trusted professionals that victim-survivors can turn to for help
“Health practitioners are often the first – and sometimes the only – trusted professionals that victim-survivors can turn to for help.
“Ensuring practitioners have the skills to recognise and respond to family, domestic, and sexual violence safely and sensitively can make a real difference in the lives of victim-survivors,” he said.
The three areas of regulation in focus are:
- Professional capabilities,
- Codes of conduct, and
- Continuing Professional Development guidelines.
“All health practitioners have a role to play in responding to family violence. Whether it’s the midwife who has an ongoing relationship with a mum, the optometrist treating a patient with ocular damage and an inconsistent story, or the dentist treating a patient with damaged or broken teeth” said Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey AM in a joint statement by Ahpra and the National Boards.
Further information is available on the Ahpra website.
