Ahpra, National Boards and Accreditation Authorities are working together to strengthen the health workforce’s ability to recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV). A joint statement outlining this shared commitment has just been published.
Around 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.
“Health practitioners are often the first—and sometimes the only—trusted professionals that victim-survivors can turn to for help,” Ahpra CEO Justin Untersteiner said.
“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.”
Professor Jane Dahlstrom, chair of the Medical School Accreditation Committee, Australian Medical Council, said preparing the workforce needs to occur well before practitioners start practising.
“It’s important that students start developing the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to family violence from the outset of their careers,” Professor Dahlstrom said.
The announcement forms part of Ahpra and the National Boards’ significant program of work to respond to FDSV and use existing regulatory frameworks to ensure all health practitioners understand their role in addressing family, domestic and sexual violence.
The National Boards are reviewing key regulatory levers to strengthen how health practitioners recognise and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence. This includes supporting practitioners by providing practical guidance on their professional obligations to recognise and respond to family violence sensitively and safely.
The three areas of regulation in focus are:
• Professional capabilities
• Codes of conduct
• Continuing Professional Development (CPD) guidelines.
Untersteiner paid tribute to the many practitioners already supporting victim-survivors.
“We expect practitioners to lead by example and uphold the public’s trust,” Untersteiner said.
“As a regulator, this is another reason we have zero tolerance for boundary violations, sexual misconduct and acts of violence by practitioners. Public trust is paramount.”
