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Frontline Voices – Family Domestic and Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse (FDSV): Transforming Primary Care Responses through Co-Design

Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) envisions a future where primary healthcare professionals in western Victoria are empowered with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively transform primary care responses to family, domestic, and sexual violence, including child abuse (FDSV).

WVPHN is expanding our existing Family Violence Pilot to include Sexual Violence (SV) and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). To successfully incorporate SV and CSA into our revised Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FSDV) pilot, the voices of primary care, specialised Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse Specialised Services, and People with Lived Experience will be critical to the overall success of the project.

In line with our strategic priority of Co-Design to Expand Scope, we are committed to equipping General Practices (primary healthcare professionals) in western Victoria with the tools and knowledge to effectively respond to cases of Sexual Violence and Child Sexual Abuse.

INFORMATION UPDATE - SV and CSA Co-Design

6 September 2024

Co-Design Report - Full Report and Stakeholder Summary Report - Now available!

The Co-Design Full Report is now available under the "Documents" section of this page. For convenience, both the full report, and the summary version have been published for participating stakeholders.


Thank you to all who participated

We extend our gratitude to all the professionals who participated in these sessions. We will soon share a summary of the participation and feedback as part of the Co-Design report and remain committed to keeping stakeholders informed throughout this process.

As part of our initiative to enhance primary care responses to Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse, the Family Domestic and Sexual Violence Project Team has been actively engaging with primary care professionals and sexual violence specialists. This has involved a series of Co-Design Sessions, held both online and in-person in Horsham, Warrnambool, Geelong, and Ballarat.

We were delighted to see strong participation from General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers, allied health practitioners, and specialists in sexual violence and child sexual abuse. These sessions have focused on:

  • Understanding the key interactions that victim-survivors may have with Primary Care Professionals.

  • Recognising the critical role primary care professionals play in supporting victim-survivors across their health continuum.

  • Identifying practical solutions for early identification, effective responses, referral pathways, and care coordination in the specialized field of sexual violence, including child sexual abuse.

Summary of Key Findings

The report describes the key insights that were heard from participants who contributed to the co-design process:

General Practice Training Requirements: Participants described a need to integrate training on family and sexual violence, while also addressing the distinct nuances of each. It was heard that training should also ensure to help primary care providers recognise subtle signs of sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, respond appropriately, and maintain a patient-centred approach. Key themes include the importance of understanding the scope of practice for primary care, mandatory reporting requirements, and providing ongoing support to victims/survivors.

General Practice Supports and Service Needs: The co-design highlighted the challenges GPs face due to time constraints and the need for flexible, scaffolded training options. There was a recommendation for a whole-of-practice approach, starting with foundational training and capacity building supports and working up to more detailed sessions tailored to different roles within the practice.

System Integration Opportunities: The participants discussed the need for improved referral pathways and communication between primary care providers and specialised services. A community of practice (or similar) was suggested to facilitate collaboration and sharing of expertise across sectors.


Next Steps

The FDSV Project team will now work to prioritise plans for co-developing an integrated Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse (FDSV) Training Package.

Opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the co-development of an FDSV training package will be announced in the coming weeks.

Key Stakeholders that participated in the co-design and are also on WVPHN FDSV project mailing list will also be informed of procurement opportunities as these arise.


Sincerely

FDSV Project Team


Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) envisions a future where primary healthcare professionals in western Victoria are empowered with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively transform primary care responses to family, domestic, and sexual violence, including child abuse (FDSV).

WVPHN is expanding our existing Family Violence Pilot to include Sexual Violence (SV) and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). To successfully incorporate SV and CSA into our revised Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FSDV) pilot, the voices of primary care, specialised Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse Specialised Services, and People with Lived Experience will be critical to the overall success of the project.

In line with our strategic priority of Co-Design to Expand Scope, we are committed to equipping General Practices (primary healthcare professionals) in western Victoria with the tools and knowledge to effectively respond to cases of Sexual Violence and Child Sexual Abuse.

INFORMATION UPDATE - SV and CSA Co-Design

6 September 2024

Co-Design Report - Full Report and Stakeholder Summary Report - Now available!

The Co-Design Full Report is now available under the "Documents" section of this page. For convenience, both the full report, and the summary version have been published for participating stakeholders.


Thank you to all who participated

We extend our gratitude to all the professionals who participated in these sessions. We will soon share a summary of the participation and feedback as part of the Co-Design report and remain committed to keeping stakeholders informed throughout this process.

As part of our initiative to enhance primary care responses to Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse, the Family Domestic and Sexual Violence Project Team has been actively engaging with primary care professionals and sexual violence specialists. This has involved a series of Co-Design Sessions, held both online and in-person in Horsham, Warrnambool, Geelong, and Ballarat.

We were delighted to see strong participation from General Practitioners, Practice Nurses, Practice Managers, allied health practitioners, and specialists in sexual violence and child sexual abuse. These sessions have focused on:

  • Understanding the key interactions that victim-survivors may have with Primary Care Professionals.

  • Recognising the critical role primary care professionals play in supporting victim-survivors across their health continuum.

  • Identifying practical solutions for early identification, effective responses, referral pathways, and care coordination in the specialized field of sexual violence, including child sexual abuse.

Summary of Key Findings

The report describes the key insights that were heard from participants who contributed to the co-design process:

General Practice Training Requirements: Participants described a need to integrate training on family and sexual violence, while also addressing the distinct nuances of each. It was heard that training should also ensure to help primary care providers recognise subtle signs of sexual violence, including child sexual abuse, respond appropriately, and maintain a patient-centred approach. Key themes include the importance of understanding the scope of practice for primary care, mandatory reporting requirements, and providing ongoing support to victims/survivors.

General Practice Supports and Service Needs: The co-design highlighted the challenges GPs face due to time constraints and the need for flexible, scaffolded training options. There was a recommendation for a whole-of-practice approach, starting with foundational training and capacity building supports and working up to more detailed sessions tailored to different roles within the practice.

System Integration Opportunities: The participants discussed the need for improved referral pathways and communication between primary care providers and specialised services. A community of practice (or similar) was suggested to facilitate collaboration and sharing of expertise across sectors.


Next Steps

The FDSV Project team will now work to prioritise plans for co-developing an integrated Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse (FDSV) Training Package.

Opportunities for stakeholders to participate in the co-development of an FDSV training package will be announced in the coming weeks.

Key Stakeholders that participated in the co-design and are also on WVPHN FDSV project mailing list will also be informed of procurement opportunities as these arise.


Sincerely

FDSV Project Team


  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded.

    Frontline Voices: Shaping Family Violence Response in Primary Care through Co-Design

    This is a place for you to share any further insights, or reflections pertaining to the WVPHN FDSV Co-Design Sessions/Workshops that you attended recently.  

    WVPHN’s project team will add your responses to our collation of data received through the co-design process. Your responses will remain anonymous and will only be reported in aggregate. No identifying information will be collected. 

    Collection Notification Statement: 
    Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) is committed to protecting your privacy and is bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014 (VIC), Health Records Act 2001 and complying with our obligations under the Australian Privacy Principles. By completing this survey, you are consenting to allow WVPHN to store and use your responses provided for the purpose of developing future primary care services and training to better support responses to family, domestic, and sexual violence, including child abuse. You can view our Privacy Statement (https://westvicphn.com.au/privacy-statement/) for information on our privacy practices. 

Page last updated: 18 Sep 2024, 12:10 PM