Government and health sector in new push to tackle violence

Published Tuesday, 16 June, 2015 at 04:25 PM

Minister for Communities, Women and Youth, Minister for Child Safety and Minister for Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Shannon Fentiman

Government and leaders from the medical profession met on the Gold Coast today to discuss how the health sector can help tackle domestic and family violence.

Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman, hosted the roundtable session, one of five sector-based roundtables being held across Queensland to discuss the state’s response to domestic and family violence.

“Health professionals are vital in responding to the horrific effects of domestic and family violence. They take a lead role in supporting victims of abuse and may be the first, or only help that victims seek,” Ms Fentiman said.

“The health sector is already very active in this area and the roundtable aimed to harness their ideas about what more can be done to eliminate this problem.

“The Australian Medical Association is working with the Women’s Legal Service and Law Council of Australia on a resource to assist discussions between doctors and patients and help refer people experiencing abuse to support services.

“These sorts of partnerships are a great example of how different sectors can work together to develop solutions to this insidious problem.”

The need for the whole community to work together against domestic and family violence was one of the central themes of Dame Quentin Bryce’s landmark report, Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland.

The Queensland Government will soon be releasing its response to the report’s 140 recommendations, which will underpin the development of a Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy.

The report made recommendations about how the health sector could show leadership and drive cultural change to help prevent domestic and family violence and support victims of abuse.

The roundtable is one of a series of sector-based events happening across Queensland, with others covering the legal, education, business and community sectors.

Community roundtables aimed to galvanise support and discuss local solutions are also being held in Cairns, Longreach, Mt Isa and Ipswich.  

Ms Fentiman said the Government was already working in a number of ways to help tackle domestic and family violence, including a plan to build two new crisis shelters and a $49 million fund over five years for domestic violence prevention and support services across Queensland.

Anyone who is experiencing or suspects domestic violence is happening to a friend, colleague or loved one should contact DV Connect on 1800 600 636.

Media contact: Alex Purnell 0437 336 232