GPs left to own devices on family violence training as scourge grows

Calls for compulsory family violence training for GPs have been ignored by the federal government, despite repeated cries for help being ignored by the doctors of women who were later killed.

Calls for mandatory family violence training for GPs have been ignored by the federal government, despite the findings of numerous homicide investigations where women who made disclosures of violence to their doctor were not helped – and later killed.

Among the Victorian women failed by the healthcare system were Fatima Batool and Alicia Little, both killed by their violent partners, and Caroline Willis, killed by her son.

Each of these women sought help from medical professionals, including GPs and psychologists, who failed to provide them with potentially lifesaving intervention.

Ms Batool, fatally strangled by her husband with her hijab in their Hampton Park home, frequently visited her GP in the lead-up to her death, making repeat disclosures about issues within her marriage including that her husband was “not a good person” and she was thinking of leaving him because it was “difficult to live like this”.

However her doctor never probed these issues or gave her information to improve her safety.

Alicia Little was killed by her violent partner.

Ms Little was failed by her psychologist, in whom she had confided prior to be crushed to death by a ute driven by her violent fiance Charles Evans after she told him she was ending their abusive relationship.

Ms Little disclosed a history of physical abuse perpetrated by Evan but the psychologist did not record the discussions and at one point spoke to Ms Little about not letting his behaviour “impact her”.

A coronial investigation found the psychologist lacked insight into the power imbalance in family violence relationships, devalued Ms Little’s experience of violence and failed to accurately assess her risk of future harm or establish safety planning.

The federal government and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners have been lobbied by coroners as far back as 2015 to mandate family violence training for GPs on the frontline of the family violence fight.

Yet action has never been taken, with the RACGP for years standing firm on the view it does not support a “one size” approach to family violence training, instead relying on GPs to self-direct their own non-compulsory training.

Fatima Batool was strangled to death by her husband.

State Coroner Judge John Cain as recently as last week declared the system “inadequate”, noting a portion of GPs were “unskilled and ill-equipped” to respond to patients’ disclosure of family violence in a time of national crisis.

“Given the prevalence of family violence in Australia and the critical role of GPs in responding to family violence, I find that it is inadequate to rely on the self-direction of GPs to undertake training in this area,” Judge Cain said following his investigation into the murder of Ms Willis in 2018.

Despite Ms Willis repeatedly telling her GP of her son’s perpetration of violence and financial abuse toward her, her doctor never referred her to a family violence support service, instead noting: “This discussion goes round and round and will never be resolved”.

RACGP president Nicole Higgins says more needs to be done to address family violence. Picture: Martin Ollman

One in every five Australian women make their first disclosure of family violence to a GP.

Dr Chelsea Tobin, CEO of Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre, said seeking help could be extremely difficult for victims, who are often coercively controlled, so it’s essential they find support when they ask.

“These women are doing the best they can to survive every single day so we need to make sure that at the moment of disclosure, (the response) is supportive and helpful,” Dr Tobin said.

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins conceded more needs to be done to address family violence.

“The College has been hesitant to support a mandatory ‘one-size’ approach for family violence training for all GPs as part of their ongoing professional development requirements. However I intend to discuss with my colleagues whether it is time for change,” Dr Higgins said.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has now written to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency asking it undertake a review of mandatory family violence training programs.

“Pending this advice, Health Ministers across all jurisdictions will consider further action,” a department spokesman said.