Medicare Urgent Care Clinics
Education for all Medicare Urgent Care Clinic staff
Pathways to Safety - Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Training Essentials 2026-2027
The Pathways to Safety DFSV Training Essentials program is a nationally funded education initiative designed to strengthen the capacity of Medicare Urgent Care Clinics 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 for patients experiencing DFSV.
The Program includes:
90-minute self-paced e-learning module (completed prior to the workshop)
2-hour facilitated virtual state workshop
RACGP and ACRRM CPD-accredited learning (4 hours total)
The program is being provided at no cost (up until May 2027).
Training is only open to federally-funded Medicare UCCs. Workshop places are limited so register early!
Register now using the form on this page.
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Please note all workshop’s will be held online via ZOOM.
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.
Two tailored workshop streams
These workshops are 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
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/nurses
specialist family violence workers
people with lived expertise.
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.
Registrations for NSW are open now. Dates for upcoming workshops in other regions will be posted on this webpage. Or express your interest using the form on this page, to be informed as soon as dates become available.
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Learn practical ways to strengthen your skills in identifying and responding to DFSV in this interactive course. We outline how and when to sensitively inquire and what to do when a patient discloses, to enable a best-practice response and referral. The content is also relevant for practice managers and reception and administrative staff.
Learning outcomes
By the end of this module you should be able to:Discuss the nature, prevalence, and impact of domestic and family violence.
Enquire sensitively to a diverse range of patients about domestic and family violence.
Assess the level of risk and safety of patients experiencing domestic and family violence.
Provide a first-line response addressing the needs of patients, including brief safety planning and options for support and referrals.
Distinguish methods and resources for changing the environment you work in and getting support for yourself.
IMPORTANT NOTE REGARDING MODULE ACCESS
Registration does not facilitate immediate access. Please read the instructions below before clicking on the button.
Enrolments are being issued weekly. Therefore once you register, please wait up to a week for a Welcome email from the Mobile Learning Unit (MLU).
Your ‘Welcome email’ is sent from mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
Please check your junk mail if you do not receive it.Your Welcome email will include an activation link which you must activate within 7 days.
If you have any issues enrolling, please contact mobile-learning@unimelb.edu.au
Once activated, you can access the module at any time you wish. It’s a good idea to bookmark the link to your learning portal so you can return to the course whenever required using the login and password provided to you upon enrolment.
RACGP and ACRRM CPD hours for GPs are administered once you have completed the module and answered all the mandatory assessment questions. You can then make a request for a Completion Certificate.
For all training enquiries please contact:
Email: safer-families@unimelb.edu.au
Register now!
To ensure you secure your place, individual staff members are required to register themselves here for both the e-learning module and the Pathways to Safety workshop in your region, using the form below.
The e-learning module is available now.
Registrations for the non-clinical workshop - Sep 9
(12pm-2pm) - in NSW are open now!Or if you are outside NSW, register your interest to stay informed about the next workshop in your state.
Further workshop dates and locations to be announced.