Health workforce domestic and family violence training

Guideline number: QH-GDL-441:2022

Effective date: 27 June 2022

Review date: 27 June 2025

Supersedes: Version 4

On this page:

1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Background
4. What is domestic and family violence?
5. Requirements for domestic and family violence training for the health workforce
6. Legislation
7. Supporting documents
8. Definitions
9. Document approval details
10. Version control

1. Purpose

This guideline provides recommendations regarding resources and training programs available to promote consistency and best practice, and to ensure that all health service employees are aware of their role and responsibilities in recognising and responding to domestic and family violence (DFV).

2. Scope

This guideline applies to all health service employees. More specifically, it applies to health service employees who as part of their normal duties in clinical areas are more likely to interact with victims-survivors and /or perpetrators of DFV.

Compliance with this guideline is not mandatory, but sound reasoning must exist for departing from the recommended requirements within a guideline.

3. Background

Queensland Health is committed to service system reform:

• to building the capacity within Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) to respond to DFV suspicions and disclosures, safely and appropriately through provision and delivery of a flexible program of DFV training to frontline health workers and clinicians across services and clinical units.
• effective engagement and participation in Integrated Service Responses (ISR).

These objectives were originally recommended in the 2015 Report from the Queensland Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence, Not Now Not Ever: Putting an end to domestic and family violence in Queensland. Since that time, the focus of this work has strengthened and these objectives remain key strategic priorities in the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016–2026, and in subsequent reports from the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board and Women’s Safety and Justice Taskforce.

In addition to the continued commitment to the DFV reform agenda, Queensland Health’s focus is also on the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters on increasing incidences of DFV. It is broadly acknowledged that impacts of COVID-19 and natural disaster which can result in social isolation, loss of employment and financial stress, have led to increased risk of DFV.

Funding was provided to establish a DFV Specialist Workforce by employing a dedicated and experienced DFV Clinician in all HHSs in recognition of the importance of enhancing the capacity of health clinicians to safely and appropriately recognise, respond and refer cases of DFV. The primary function of the DFV Specialist Health Workforce Program is to build the capacity within HHSs to respond to suspicions and disclosures of DFV safely and appropriately through the provision of specialist information and delivery of a flexible program of DFV training to frontline health workers and clinicians across services and clinical units.

4. What is domestic and family violence?

In the Queensland Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012, domestic violence means behaviour by a person (the first person) towards another person (the second person) with whom the first person is in a relevant relationship that—

1. is physically or sexually abusive; or
2. is emotionally or psychologically abusive; or
3. is economically abusive; or
4. is threatening; or
5. is coercive; or
6. in any other way controls or dominates the second person and causes the second person to fear for the second person’s safety or wellbeing or that of someone else.

5. Requirements for domestic and family violence training for the health workforce

This guideline provides information on the DFV education and training program and supports best practice in recognising, responding to and referring suspicions and disclosures of DFV.

5.1. Education and training program

5.1.1. Newly employed health service employees

• The understanding DFV module only needs to be completed once by all HHS staff. This should be managed through the inclusion of a broad overview of DFV as a component of the HHS clinical induction program.
• All newly employed health service employees are provided with introductory information on DFV. This information is accessible through completing the Understanding Domestic and Family Violence online module or reviewing the supporting Understanding Domestic and Family Violence booklet available on the Domestic and family violence resources page (Queensland Health website).
• For information on support for employees experiencing DFV refer 5.3

5.1.2. Health professionals working in specific clinical areas

• Health professionals who work in the following clinical areas, are required to complete the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence blended learning package: maternity services, emergency departments, community child health, paediatrics, allied health, mental health, alcohol and other drug services, sexual health, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and multicultural health services.
• Health professionals working in the above named clinical areas are required to complete the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence blended learning package within six months of commencing their role and refresh the training every three years.
• The Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence blended learning package has two components an online module and a face-to-face training session to embed adult learning concepts in relation to effective communication with clients experiencing DFV and to address sensitive and complex materials.
• The face-to-face session can be delivered flexibly either in a single session or a series of short sessions.
• To complete the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence blended learning package clinicians are required to complete the following steps:
  • Step 1 – Complete the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence online module on the Domestic and family violence resources page (Queensland Health website)
  • Step 2 – Print the ‘Certificate of Completion’ at the end of the online module.
  • Step 3 – Within one month of completing the online module, attend a face-to-face training session delivered by a DFV trainer or the DFV specialist clinician established locally in the HHS.
  • Step 4 – Complete the pre-training evaluation survey.
  • Step 5 – Present the ‘Certificate of Completion’ to the trainer or DFV specialist clinician to authorise by signing the certificate and recording your attendance.
  • Step 6 – Complete the pre-training survey before you attend the face-to-face training session.
  • Step 7 – Complete the post-training evaluation survey to identify areas for improvement in the delivery of future training sessions.

5.2. DFV Specialist Workforce clinicians

5.2.1. DFV Specialist Workforce clinicians overview

• The DFV Specialist Workforce clinician aims to develop and deliver locally tailored, face-to-face training opportunities to build on existing knowledge and expertise to confidently deliver DFV training sessions to clinicians in relevant and targeted clinical areas.
• The objective of delivering tailored DFV training sessions is to provide training at times and locations that suit busy clinical schedules, and that are designed to meet identified DFV training needs with a range of clinical cohorts.
• Delivery of training to Mental health alcohol and other drug services will be prioritised.
• The Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence Facilitator Guide and training presentation (PowerPoint) supports the delivery of the education and training program by outlining the requirements of the session including:
  • preparation for the session
  • topics for discussion
  • key messages
  • facilitator notes and suggested activities.
• The facilitator of the DFV education and training program should have knowledge and expertise on the topic of DFV and experience in facilitating groups.

5.2.2. Responsibilities of DFV Specialist Workforce clinicians

• The DFV Specialist Workforce clinician is responsible for:
  • Ensuring participants are aware of the prerequisite requirement of the program which includes completion of the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence online module.
  • Conducting Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence training sessions at regular intervals.
  • Providing education on referral processes and pathways for all clinical staff within the HHS.
  • Maintaining a record of all DFV training sessions delivered, a register of participants names, positions and clinical service areas and participant feedback to provide to the DFV Central Coordinator.
• DFV Specialist Workforce Clinicians should follow local HHS procedure when maintaining a record of:
  • the number of all DFV training sessions delivered;
  • the names, positions and clinical service areas of the clinicians who have completed the Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence blended learning package;
  • DFV training participation levels and feedback made by participants and provide to the DFV Central Coordinator.

5.3. Support for employees affected by domestic and family violence

• The DFV Specialist Workforce clinician should ensure participants are aware of how to contact their Employee assistance service providers (EAS) or DVConnect in case they need additional, confidential support.
  The Queensland Health employee DFV online training program – ‘Recognise, Respond, Refer’ was jointly developed by the Queensland Government and Challenge DV and is available on QHEPS.

• The Support for employees affected by domestic and family violence directive, policy and guideline outline the roles and responsibilities of managers and the Queensland Health workforce.
• Human Resource services in each HHS are responsible for ensuring appropriate supports and training to staff and managers around DFV for employees.
• Exemption from DFV training: If an employee’s wellbeing will genuinely be negatively impacted by completing any of the DFV training (online, blended package or tailored DFV training), their self-assessment will be respected allowing for them to be exempt from the training for 12 months by notifying via email the HHS DFV Specialist Workforce clinician, as well as their manager if they are comfortable to do so.

6. Legislation

• Domestic and Family Violence Protection Act 2012
• Child Protection Act 1999
• Information Privacy Act 2009
• Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
• The Privacy Act 1988

7. Supporting documents

• National Plan to end violence against women and children 2022 – 2032
• Domestic and Family Violence Death Review and Advisory Board Annual Reports 2016 – current
• Not Now, Not Ever: Putting an End to Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland
• Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy 2016 – 2026 (Queensland)
• Hear her voice, Report one, Addressing coercive control and domestic and family violence in Queensland
• Understanding Domestic and Family Violence online module and booklet
• Clinical response to Domestic and Family Violence online module and Facilitator Guide
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resource booklet

8. Definitions

9. Document approval details

Document custodian

David Harmer, Senior Director, Social Policy, Legislation and Statutory Agencies Branch

Approval officer

Jasmina Joldić PSM, Associate Director-General, Strategy, Policy and Reform Division

Approval date: 27 June 2022

10. Version control