Morrison government funding to help health professionals identify domestic violence

Doctors, nurses and health professionals will be trained to recognise hidden domestic ­violence under a record $328 million strategy to combat the social scourge.

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Doctors, nurses and health professionals will be trained to recognise hidden domestic ­violence under a record $328 million strategy to combat the social scourge.

The Morrison government will work with universities to introduce courses on domestic violence into degrees, while ­established professionals will be upskilled and armed with information for victims on counselling, financial help and emergency housing in their local area.

Despite eight women being hospitalised because of domestic violence every day, there is no mandatory training for health professionals on identifying victims, or how to best offer support.

A record $328 million strategy will be funded by the Morrison government to combat domestic violence.

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The package includes $82 million for frontline services, including free training for health workers and the developing of national standards for sexual assault responses, which vary across the country.

Almost $70 million will be devoted to a prevention program that will be modelled on successful public health campaigns that tackled smoking and AIDS under the biggest- ever federal package for domestic violence.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he will develop Australia’s first national prevention strategy to stop domestic and sexual violence. Picture: Adam Yip

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the focus on prevention by countering the culture of disrespect towards women was vital to ending violence against women.

“A culture of disrespect towards women is a precursor to violence and anyone who doesn’t see that is kidding themselves,” he said.

“We will also develop Australia’s first national prevention strategy to stop domestic and family violence and sexual assault, and continue our work to change the attitudes and beliefs that can lead to violence.”

Other initiatives include positioning child protection and family safety officials in the Family Court across the country to tip off state agencies to suspected abuse.

Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer said all women and children have the right to feel safe. Picture: Tracey Nearmy/Getty Images

It follows successful trials in Victoria and WA, which also help ensure courts are aware of apprehended violence orders and abuse when making custody decisions.

For the first time, the federal government will invest in emergency housing though a $60 million grant program to build new or expanded accommodation to help up to 6500 victims fleeing violent homes.

Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer said all women and children had the right to feel safe and to feel supported to seek help when they needed it.

“The statistics on this issue are shocking — one in six women have experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or former partner since the age of 15,” she said.

The announcement follows Labor’s commitment to offer about 20,000 Flexible Support Packages to people fleeing ­violent relationships.