Family violence podcast

Western Health has a new podcast series – If only someone had asked – which explores the issue of family violence and how health professionals can better support victim survivors.

Family violence is a major health issue. It occurs across all ages, and all socioeconomic and demographic groups, but predominantly affects women and children. In fact, intimate partner violence is the great health risk factor for women aged 25 to 44. And one in four Australian women have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15.

One of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Family Violence was that the Victorian Government resource public hospitals to implement a whole-of-hospital model for responding to family violence.

As of 2016, Victorian public health services – including Western Health – use the Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence model, led here by Assunta Morrone.

The model aims to increase the supports available for staff and volunteers of the health service who are experiencing family violence, and to improve how clinical staff at the health service identify, respond to and support patients impacted by family violence.

Assunta oversees the model at Western Health, building the capacity of clinical staff through a regular training program, WeLearn modules, and providing confidential advice and guidance.

The podcast was created by Assunta and the Public Affairs team to help time-poor staff learn more about family violence including: what it is and why it occurs; how to identify it when we see it; and how we as a health sector can respond.

It features victim-survivors who courageously share their experiences of family violence as well as community and health professionals working to strengthen responses to family violence.

The episodes feature: victim survivor Beth (not her real name), victim-survivor and now advocate Yee Man as well as Western Health staff members senior midwife Emma Greelish; Elder Abuse Prevention and Response Liaison Officer Carla Wilkie; and social worker Kellie Plasajec.

Please take a moment to listen to help improve your understanding of family violence.

Support for staff experiencing family violence

Western Health has supports in place to assist our staff experiencing family violence.

Our People and Culture Business Partners have received family violence training.

Impacted staff members – and managers who have received a disclosure of family violence from a staff member – can reach out to their relevant People and Culture Business Partner or contact Assunta via assunta.morrone@wh.org.au or 0466 028 324 for confidential advice.

We have a range of supports including paid family violence leave, safety planning and referrals to specialist services.

Our free, confidential Employee Assistance Program provider Caraniche at Work also has specialist family violence counsellors who can be accessed 24/7 on 1800 0990 444.

You can also call the National Domestic Family and Sexual Assault Counselling Services on 1800 737 732