Rebecca* credits her general practitioner with saving her life.<\/p>\n
It was her doctor who, when her child presented with severe anxiety at school, took the time to go back through Rebecca’s records with a new lens.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Rebecca says she “needed someone I trusted, who was objective”. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
Then, they asked Rebecca how things were at home.<\/p>\n
“They took that opportunity to say ‘I just really need you to know I have concerns you’re experiencing family violence \u2026 and if you would like to talk to that with me, I’m here to support you’.”<\/p>\n
It was the support Rebecca needed to open up about what she’d been experiencing.<\/p>\n
Family and domestic violence support services:<\/p>\n
If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0<\/p>\n
“I remember I just broke down,” she said.<\/p>\n
“I knew what I was experiencing was family violence, but I felt so full of responsibility for that.<\/p>\n
“I think I needed someone I trusted, who was objective … to say ‘no, that’s not right. You’re doing nothing wrong, this isn’t your responsibility and these are your options’.”<\/p>\n
A new pilot program underway in Tasmania, assisting general practitioners to better recognise and respond to domestic and family abuse, is helping to ensure more people can get that same support.<\/p>\n
Initial reaction can determine next steps<\/p>\n
GPs at the Bubble are taking part in the training program. (ABC News: Ebony ten Broeke)<\/p>\n
Across Australia, it is estimated a full-time GP sees on average of five women per week who have experienced intimate partner violence in the past 12 months<\/a>.<\/p>\n The GP is also where roughly 1 in 5 women make their first disclosure of abuse.<\/p>\n However, recognising the more hidden signs, or knowing how best to respond, while juggling already challenging workloads,<\/a> can present challenges for doctors.<\/p>\n Alina Thomas is heading up the pilot program’s rollout. (ABC News: Maren Preuss)<\/p>\n Engender Equality chief executive Alina Thomas, whose organisation is helping deliver the state-wide project, said this pilot would help GPs get that first interaction right.<\/p>\n “It can be the difference between them going on to seek further help and further support and feeling believed and validated,” Ms Thomas said.\u00a0<\/p>\n “But when that goes wrong, the opposite happens.”<\/p>\n Through the program, general practitioners and other medical practice workers can access tailored assistance from a designated domestic and family abuse support worker in their region.\u00a0<\/p>\n Next steps when someone says they are experiencing DV<\/a><\/p>\n It’s important to understand how difficult disclosing experiences of violent behaviour can be, and how best to provide support.<\/p>\n This worker can help coordinate referrals or guide possible next steps, including informing about local services and waitlists.<\/p>\n “So it may be that we… are helping GPs to support somebody who it might be their first disclosure,” Ms Thomas said.<\/p>\n “It might be for somebody who’s thinking about leaving, it might be for somebody who does have medical concerns about a historical family violence incident or a current one.<\/p>\n “We will be able to be there with GPs to help them to understand what the implications are and what the best practice is.”<\/p>\n Training sessions are also being offered state-wide on how to recognise signs of domestic and family abuse.<\/p>\n Program builds on past successDomestic violence shelters turning women away<\/a><\/p>\n In desperate search of a safe space, 1,182 women and children called the Hobart Women’s Shelter last financial year \u2014 943 of them were turned away.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n