The Andrews Labor Government will deliver $2.3 million for new initiatives to help Victoria’s allied health workers better respond to family violence and keep our most vulnerable children safe.
As part of the latest round of the Advanced Practice in Allied Health Workforce grants program, 17 health services will share in funding to support 24 projects across the state.
The program supports allied health workers across Victoria to receive the training they need to build their skills and ability to deliver even more services and ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time.
In 2016, the program is funding projects responding to the Royal Commission into Family Violence and the Roadmap for Reform: Strong Families, Safe Children.
Other projects will focus on preventative care in community health services, as well as enhancing podiatry, psychology, physiotherapy, dietetics, speech therapy and palliative care services.
Advanced practice allied health workers are in a unique position to identify and respond to family violence and childhood trauma and deliver specialist support to women within a safe and supportive environment.
The Royal Children’s Hospital, Northern Health, Djerriwarrh Health Services and Annie North Incorporated will all run projects to help staff better respond to family violence.
Meanwhile, Barwon Health, Western Health and Austin Health will benefit from funding to improve early identification of childhood trauma in emergency departments, paediatric units and specialist clinics.
The Victorian Budget 2016/17 delivered an extra $2.45 billion for health so hospitals can admit more patients, reduce waiting times, upgrade buildings and infrastructure, and keep Victorians healthy.
It invested $168 million to make sweeping changes to the child protection system and shift the focus from crisis response to prevention and early intervention for vulnerable children, young people and families, and $527 million to respond to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Family Violence.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Jill Hennessy
“Healthcare workers have a real role to play in preventing violence. For many women, healthcare workers are people they respect and trust.”
“Frontline health workers may be the first people that a victim will speak to – or the first person to see the signs of violence.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Families and Children Jenny Mikakos
“Through our Roadmap for Reform, we’re making sure there is more support for vulnerable families and children, from early on in life.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020