The Albanese Government is investing $22.7 million to extend a national pilot program supporting general practices to identify, support and refer victim-survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV).
The decision to extend the Supporting Primary Care Response to Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Pilot follows an interim evaluation report showing the program is strengthening responses in primary care and increasing referrals to specialist FDSV services.
The evaluation found that from July 2022 to April 2025, 721 FDSV training sessions were conducted with primary care providers, resulting in increased awareness, knowledge, and confidence to recognise and respond to FDSV.
During this period, more than 1,500 direct referrals were made from primary care providers to specialist services. For victim-survivors, this means early support and less time navigating the system alone.
Primary care is often the first place people turn to when experiencing family, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence including child sexual abuse.
The pilot supports health professionals to recognise signs of abuse, respond safely and develops referral pathways so they can provide better support to victim-survivors and connect them to specialist services.
The report also found that the whole-of-staff approach to training was critical to fostering cultural change across practices and enabling all staff to be confident to recognise and respond to FDSV.
Currently, the training is offered to GPs, nurses and non-clinical primary care staff across all states and territories through 12 Primary Health Networks (PHNs).
To date, the Albanese Government has provided $48.7 million for the pilot.
The pilot program is part of the Government’s National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister White
“Family, domestic and sexual violence has devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities and disproportionately impacts women and children.
“For many victim-survivors, primary care is the first place they seek help, and this program is about ensuring they receive safe, compassionate support from the health professionals they trust.
“The interim evaluation shows this national pilot program is making a difference as part of our Government’s commitment to end gender-based violence in one generation.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Kearney
“As a former nurse, I know our healthcare professionals are highly capable and trusted people. Alongside specialist frontline services, general practices are often where the first signs of family, sexual and domestic violence are seen.
“When general practices are supported to identify and respond, we reduce the risk of violence escalating and even prevent violence from occurring. That means more lives will be changed, and some lives will be saved. More referrals mean more victim survivors reaching specialist services sooner.
“When we give healthcare professionals the tools to respond to violence, we’re not just improving care for victim-survivors, we’re safeguarding the wellbeing of the people supporting them.
“Our National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children makes it clear that addressing family, sexual and domestic violence must be a coordinated effort across all systems to deliver real, lasting change.”