Domestic and family violence forum highlights key insights and awards excellence in DFV responses.
 

The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, an international initiative held from 25 November to 10 December, calls on leaders and communities to take a stand against violence towards women. This year, our District reflected on the extraordinary efforts of individuals and teams working tirelessly to effectively respond to domestic and family violence. 

Health workers are uniquely positioned to empower victim-survivors and provide support to enhance the safety of victims and their families. Some of those impacted by gender-based violence access or work within our services, making it critical for our District to create a safe and supportive environment for all. 

Domestic and family violence remains a pressing public health issue in Australia and a key priority for our District. One in four women experiences violence by an intimate partner, and on average, one woman a week is murdered by a current or former partner. Domestic and family violence is the leading cause of death, ill health, homelessness and disability for women under the age of 45. 

On 2 December, the Domestic Violence Strategy Unit held the Domestic and Family Violence Forum, bringing together health professionals and partner agencies to advance our response to this issue. Key presentations included: 

• Insights from the Sexual Assault Medical Service on identifying and managing non-fatal strangulation. 
• New resources developed by the Domestic Violence Strategy Unit to support staff in addressing serious threats effectively. 
• A joint presentation with Inner West Police Command on using Safety Action Meetings to enhance victim-survivor safety. 

The forum also launched the Adult Survivor Program, which offers new opportunities for collaborative responses to survivors accessing our services. 

In addition to fostering knowledge-sharing, the forum recognised exceptional contributions to domestic and family violence work with awards celebrating excellence: 

Team Award: Western Sector Acute Care Services 

Led by Nurse Unit Manager Terri Patton, this team has shown an outstanding commitment to improving responses to domestic and family violence. They engage proactively with individuals who may be uncontactable by other services, identifying seven times more serious threat cases this year than last. Through extensive collaboration and a willingness to tackle complex, time-intensive cases, they have significantly improved safety outcomes for victim-survivors. 
 

Team Award: RPA Social Work Department 

The RPA Social Work Department was honoured for their leadership and dedication to supporting victim-survivors in highly challenging circumstances. They provide comprehensive responses, even in situations where perpetrators are present in the hospital. Their work in risk assessment, safety planning, and interagency collaboration has had a profound impact on the safety of victim-survivors. 
 

Individual Clinician Award: Artie Dowdle 

Artie Dowdle, a Social Worker with the Redfern Harm Reduction Program, was recognised for his compassionate and innovative work with clients experiencing severe violence. Artie’s ability to build trust, assess risk, and balance support with decisive intervention has been transformative. He has made more Safety Action Meeting referrals than any other non-specialist clinician, empowering clients to lead their own safety responses while promoting collaboration with police and other services.