Engage

Abstract digital art with overlapping colorful shapes in shades of purple, orange, yellow, and brown
An orange puzzle-piece graphic with the word Engage in white text in the center.

ENGAGE refers to the ongoing relationship and factors required to facilitate disclosure or ensure an adequate response to domestic violence (where a disclosure is made).

For WOMEN, essential characteristics of engagement are:

  • appropriate timing for identification and response to domestic violence

  • privacy

  • partner/family involvement in care (if safe to do so)

  • cultural fit, including provision of bilingual services

HEALTH PRACTITIONERS valued:

  • having scripts and tools

  • skill building

  • having clear pathways to guide clinical decisions

  • acknowledgement of their various experiences

An illustrated woman comforting another woman who has her head bowed and hand on her forehead.

Reflective Questions

Use these questions to reflect on how effectively you are relating to the woman and how you feel about clinical and health system support available to enable this.

Suggested Scripts

Here are some examples of language, phrases and questions to use to help you to relate to the woman before you ask about domestic violence.

Other Helpful Tools

The Royal Women’s Hospital Relationship Safety Tool

NSW Health Screening Questions

WHO First line response: LIVES

Prof JO SPANGARO
Professor of Social Work, University of Wollongong