Pathways to Safety

Abstract digital art with overlapping geometric shapes in shades of orange, purple, yellow, and black.

How ready is your practice to respond to families affected by domestic and family violence?

We understand the pressures facing GPs and primary care staff and how busy services are. However, evidence shows primary care providers have a crucial role to play in addressing DFV but are often lacking the resources, support or confidence to identify and respond to families. It is estimated a full-time GP sees up to five unidentified abused women per week.

Developed and delivered by the Safer Families Centre at The University of Melbourne, Pathways to Safety aims to improve GP, nurse and whole of practice capacity to address domestic and family violence (DFV). The practice-centred training program is aimed at building the capacity of primary health care providers to more confidently and effectively recognise, respond, refer and record disclosures of DFV using a trauma and violence informed approach.

Those who choose to participate in the program will be provided with accredited virtual in-practice education, tools and support for the whole of practice to effectively identify, respond and refer individual and families experiencing DFV.

Although the program has content related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we understand that all communities are different. This training program was designed with a holistic view not specifically tailored to Aboriginal medical services, Aboriginal peoples, and their respective communities.  Anyone working in Aboriginal community controlled health organisations with questions or concerns can contact Brad, Aboriginal Research Support officer: brad.anderson@unimelb.edu.au

  • The content and delivery is based on voices of lived experience and long-standing research. With a whole of practice approach that focuses on building capability and systems, we promote trauma and violence informed care and cultural sensitivity.

    Interactive and experiential learning mechanisms are utilised which research shows is more effective for improved performances in clinical settings than didactic. By offering the program course over two virtual sessions with reinforcement activities, evidence shows it is more likely produce sustained improvements, particularly in attitudinal change compared with single event learning. Key features of the training such as linking GP peers, conducting an audit, encouraging feedback and reminders are more likely to result in long-term behaviour change for primary care staff than other strategies.

    Our training program is always tailored to the local context and setting and we engage with practices individually. We also work with Primary Health Networks and tap into local resources. We employ a coordinated effort with an approach to service integration that is aligned with state and commonwealth initiatives that address domestic and family violence.

    • All clinical and non-clinical staff within the practice or service participate in the training; flexible and delivered at times that suit participants; training delivered by skilled GP Facilitators and Family Violence Support Workers, with follow up provided.

  • NSW: Western NSW; Western Sydney; South Eastern NSW; South Western Sydney; Northern Sydney; Murrumbidgee; North Coast

    QLD: Brisbane North; Central Queensland; Wide Bay; Sunshine Coast; Gold Coast; Western Queensland; Darling Downs and West Moreton; Northern Queensland

    VIC: Eastern Melbourne; South Eastern Melbourne; Gippsland; Murray

    We also deliver training through Primary Health Networks in North Western Melbourne and Tasmania.  For more information, please contact the Safer Families team or complete an expression of interest by clicking the register button on this page.

  • Clinical staff will:

    • Undertake training for up to 8.5 hours per practice (3 hours facilitated)

    • Prepare for training through written and interactive material and a 1.5-hour e-learning course

    • Complete two 1.5-hour virtual sessions delivered by a GP Facilitator and Family Violence Worker

    • Reflect on current practice, test new tools and participate in experiential learning

    • Conduct a mini patient audit to support learning (for practice information only)

    • Complete a pre and post survey

    Non-clinical staff will:

    • Undertake training for up to 3 hours per practice (1.5 hours faclitated)

    • Prepare for training through written and interactive material

    • Complete one 1.5-hour virtual session delivered by a GP Facilitator and Family Violence Worker

    • Complete a brief pre and post survey

  • The Pathways to Safety program has been approved as an:

    RACGP CPD activity total 8.5 hours - 3 hours Educational Activities (EA), 4 hours Reviewing Performance (RP) and 1.5 hours Educational Activities (EA) for the e-learning module.

    ACRRM CPD activity total 8.5 hours - 3 hours Educational Activities (EA), 3 hours Reviewing Performance (RP), 1 hour Measuring Outcomes (MO) and 1.5 hours Educational Activities (EA) for the e-learning module.

Please note that the ‘Pathways to Safety’ DFV training program is available in selected catchments. Please submit an Expression of Interest or for more information contact Kitty Novy k.novy@unimelb.edu.au

Find out more about our training program in partnership with Primary Health Tasmania here

Expression of Interest Pathways to Safety