The Australian Labor Party Government is committing a further $22.7 million to extend a national pilot program aimed at strengthening how general practices respond to family, domestic and sexual violence.
The funding will continue the Supporting Primary Care Response to Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Pilot, following an interim evaluation that found the initiative is improving how primary care providers identify abuse, respond safely and connect victim-survivors with specialist services.
Between July 2022 and April 2025, 721 training sessions were delivered to primary care professionals across the country. The evaluation reported increased awareness, knowledge and confidence among health professionals in recognising and responding to family, domestic and sexual violence.
During the same period, more than 1,500 direct referrals were made from general practices to specialist support services. For victim-survivors, that means earlier intervention, clearer pathways to help and less time trying to navigate complex systems alone.
Primary care settings are often the first point of contact for people experiencing family, domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, including child sexual abuse. GPs, nurses and practice staff are uniquely positioned to notice signs that may otherwise go unseen.
The pilot program supports health professionals to identify indicators of abuse, respond in a trauma-informed way and establish referral pathways to specialist services. Importantly, the evaluation found that a whole-of-practice training model was critical. By involving both clinical and non-clinical staff, practices were able to foster cultural change and build shared confidence across their teams.
Training is currently delivered through 12 Primary Health Networks across all states and territories, reaching GPs, nurses and non-clinical primary care staff.
To date, the Government has invested $48.7 million in the pilot, which forms part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032. The broader plan outlines a coordinated, long-term approach to ending gender-based violence within a generation.
Assistant Minister Justine Elliot White said family, domestic and sexual violence has devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities, disproportionately affecting 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,” she said.
“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.”
Assistant Minister Ged Kearney, a former nurse, said general practices are often where the first signs of violence are identified.
“When general practices are supported to identify and respond, we reduce the risk of violence escalating and even prevent violence from occurring,” she said.
“That means more lives will be changed, and some lives will be saved. More referrals mean more victim-survivors reaching specialist services sooner.”
She added that equipping healthcare professionals with the right tools strengthens not only support for victim-survivors, but also safeguards the wellbeing of those working on the frontline.
The extension of the pilot signals an ongoing commitment to embedding stronger, more coordinated responses to family, domestic and sexual violence within everyday healthcare settings, where trust is often strongest and opportunities for early intervention can make a lasting difference.
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