RACGP Family Violence
GP Education Program (Victoria)


​​​Free training | Mixed modalities – available online

Supportive peer group | Expert-led webinars

RACGP Family Violence
GP Education Program (Victoria)


​​​Free training | Mixed modalities – available online

Supportive peer group | Expert-led webinars

Family violence in Australia

Although family violence can happen in any kind of relationship, its most common form is intimate partner violence committed by men against their current or former female partners – often with a devastating impact on children. Most programs and services are focused on this type of family violence. 
 
For women aged 18–44, intimate partner violence contributes to more burden of disease than any other risk factor.
 
Estimates suggest that full-time GPs may see up to five women per week who have experienced some form of intimate partner abuse (physical, emotional or sexual) in the past year.
 
Most of these women will present for a different reason. Ultimately, though, one in five women first disclose their experience of domestic violence to a GP, so it’s vital that GPs are properly equipped for this important role.
 
The RACGP provides accredited training on family violence to help you build your skills, understanding and confidence in caring for patients and their family members impacted by family violence.

CPD Requirements

All GPs who have completed the minimum requirements i.e. completed 5 Hours of PGL activity meetings and completed all online modules will be awarded the following CPD hours.

Interested in accredited training options?

  register now 

Prevalence of family violence and the role of GPs

Family should be a source of love, nurture and security. Yet, for many Australians, family is a source of fear and pain.
 
Family violence may include threats, abuse (physical, sexual, emotional or psychological), coercive control or financial manipulation.
 
The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that:

  • One in six women and one in 16 men have experienced physical or sexual abuse by a current or previous partner
  • One in four women and one in 16 men have experienced emotional abuse by a current or previous partner.

As the RACGP’s White Book states,
 
‘GPs have a role in prevention, early identification, responding to disclosures of intimate partner abuse, and follow-up and support of patients and their children experiencing the health effects of violence and abuse.’
 
That’s no easy task. Indeed, the complexities here can make even the most challenging of your other patients seem easy to treat in comparison. 

RACGP Family Violence GP Education Program

Free training
Peer groups, webinars and online learning
CPD-approved activity

  • Educational activities: 3.5 hours

  • Measuring outcomes: 0 hours

  • Reviewing performance: 5 hours

For Victorian GPs and nurse practitioners

Learning outcomes

By completing this program, you will be able to:

  • understand the various forms of family violence

  • identify indicators that your patient might be experiencing family abuse or violence

  • manage your patient’s disclosure of information relevant to family violence in a sensitive and timely manner

  • understand and make use of family violence referral and support pathways

  • understand and deliver upon the responsibilities of GPs under the new information sharing schemes and MARAM Framework.

Background

This training program resulted from findings from Australia’s first Royal Commission into Family Violence, held in Victoria, which recommended professional development training for GPs in family and domestic violence.

Recommendation #103 Establish mandatory training for general practitioners in family violence training through professional development

The RACGP’s role

The RACGP supports your learning by:

  • allocating groups
  • coordinating suitable dates for groups 
  • defining learning outcomes 
  • inviting and scheduling expert presenters 
  • sending confirmation and reminder emails to group participants 
  • providing resources as required, ie agendas, online evaluations 
  • collating evaluations and uploading CPD points to the CPD dashboard. 

Resources

Referral and Support pathways

Ongoing professional development

Case discussion and knowledge-sharing opportunities

The RACGP now offers two knowledge-sharing networks, created purposefully to help frontline primary care professionals develop skills and confidence in responding to family violence.
 

 Lunch and Learn series 
 

 Dine and Discuss series (new in 2024) 

Need more information?