Care and Connect Domestic Violence Program Expands to Support Sexual Assault
By Sophie Poredos
Wentworth Healthcare recently launched its expansion of the Care and Connect domestic and family violence program, which now includes supports for survivors of sexual violence and child sexual abuse.
Domestic, family and sexual violence are a complex issues that affect 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men over the age of 15. As the primary provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, Wentworth Healthcare has funded the Care and Connect Program alongside the Department of Health and Aged Care.
The initiative aims to support primary healthcare professionals in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith areas to identify, respond to and support victim-survivors.
A report by the Special Taskforce on Domestic Violence in Queensland has identified many of those impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence to seek support from a health professional as the first point of contact.
Wentworth Healthcare CEO, Lizz Reay, said despite statistics, sexual violence and child sexual abuse often goes unreported.
“It is important that primary healthcare professionals are supported to identify the signs and to respond appropriately to patients impacted by sexual violence and child sexual abuse as in some cases, they may be the first point of contact for victim-survivors”.
“For many health professionals, when they undertook their training the issue of domestic, family and sexual violence was not covered in any depth. While times are changing in the health education sector, there is sometimes a gap of knowledge for clinicians in this area.
This program plans to address this by giving health professionals the tools to ask patients the right questions and the confidence that they have the resources to support any patients impacted,” she said.
The reformed Care and Connect Program has a two-pronged approach by firstly, providing training to primary healthcare professionals including GPs, practice nurses, practice staff and others. Secondly, the program provides Care and Connect Linkers through Relationships Australia NSW, who are primary healthcare professionals that can seek advice from or refer patients to.
There are six local general practices in the Hawesbury region with Care and Connect Linkers, who are specially trained in domestic, family and sexual violence, including child sexual abuse and can bridge the gap for victim survivors obtaining appropriate health care and support.
Kate Tye, the Executive Manager Primary Care Development for Wentworth Healthcare wanted to reiterate the process of anonymity and safety for patients seeking support.
“We believe that our Care and Connect Program helps to integrate the care response for some of our society’s most vulnerable. When we are talking about family, domestic and sexual violence and drug and alcohol services, patient safety can be a concern and staff providing these services are well trained in this area. People in our community can feel confident that they are safe to seek help from these services and that their privacy and anonymity is assured.”
For those affected by domestic, violence, family or sexual violence, Lizz Reay urged survivors to reach out to their GP as a safe place to start seeking help.
“Many people might not know that their GP can be a safe first point of contact for those facing domestic, family, or sexual violence or child sexual abuse. With support through the Care and Connect Program, we are increasing the knowledge and resources GPs and other primary healthcare professionals have access to in order to help address this important issue”.
If this story has raised concerns for you, you can contact the National Domestic Family and Sexual Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT.