Medicare Urgent Care Clinics: Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Training Essentials

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Pathways to Safety 2026-2027
Free education for all Medicare Urgent Care Clinic staff

The Pathways to Safety DFSV Training Essentials program is a nationally funded education initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) to recognise and respond to domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV).

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and delivered by the Safer Families Centre, University of Melbourne, this program equips urgent care teams with the practical knowledge, skills and resources to provide safe, trauma-informed and culturally responsive care.

  • The program is being provided free of charge (up until May 2027) and includes:

    • 90-minute self-paced e-learning module (completed prior to the workshop)

    • 2-hour facilitated virtual workshop

    • Access to evidence-based resources developed for the urgent care setting

    • A post-workshop resource pack, including a practice readiness checklist and clinic posters

    • RACGP and ACRRM CPD-accredited learning (approximately 3.5 hours total)

    Two tailored workshop streams

    Training is designed to meet the needs of different roles within Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.

    Clinical Workshop

    For GPs, locums, nurses and other clinical staff.

    This interactive session focuses on strengthening the clinical response to patients—particularly women and children—who may be experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence. Participants will:

    • recognise indicators and risk factors for DFSV

    • explore barriers and enablers to asking about and responding to violence

    • work through practical case studies

    • observe and discuss role-play scenarios

    • strengthen trauma-informed, culturally safe practice

    • learn about information sharing, children's safety and available referral pathways.

    Non-Clinical Workshop

    For practice managers, receptionists, administrative staff and other non-clinical team members.

    This workshop explores how every member of the clinic team contributes to creating a safe and supportive environment. Participants will learn about:

    • the different forms of domestic, family and sexual violence

    • recognising warning signs

    • responding appropriately within the urgent care setting

    • challenges such as limited follow-up opportunities, patients without Medicare and rotating locum staff

    • organisational policies, procedures and whole-of-clinic approaches that support sustainable practice change.

    Delivered by experts

    Workshops are co-facilitated by:

    • experienced GPs

    • specialist family violence workers

    • people with lived experience.

    The program uses evidence-based materials tailored to the urgent care setting and promotes practical, whole-of-clinic strategies that improve patient safety and care.

  • Virtual workshops will be delivered progressively across Australia.

    2026–2027 schedule TBC

    Workshops

    • NSW/ACT – August 2026

    • Victoria – September 2026

    • Queensland – October 2026

    • WA/NT –November 2026

    • NSW/ACT –February 2027

    • Tasmania/Vic – April 2027

To ensure you secure your place, individual staff members are required to register themselves here.

E-learning module: Identifying and responding to DFV

Enrol here for the 90-minute e-learning module.

Enrol here