Survivors of family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) in crisis accommodation will have easier access to health support in Eurobodalla, Goulburn and the Shoalhaven thanks to Connect Well, a partnership between local services and COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN.

Officially launched today by the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Rebecca White, the Connect Well FSDV pilot program has commenced during the United Nations’ global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

The Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care said, “Too many women and children suffer at the hands of those close to them. This pilot is an all-encompassing approach to support victim-survivors, to protect them and help them recover.

“In Australia, one in four women has experienced family or domestic violence and one in five has experienced sexual violence from the age of 15.

“A whole-of-system response is needed to respond to FDSV. Choice, safety and continuity of care are the centrepieces of this pilot,” said Minister White. 

Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips said, “It’s really fantastic that the pilot program is being rolled out in the north and south of Gilmore, to assist women and children in the Nowra and Moruya areas.

“I’ve heard so many harrowing stories from women who have experienced family and domestic violence, and I know they face significant challenges when they decide it’s time to leave.
“It’s so important that we provide the vital support that women and children need to move forward right across the health system.

“One life lost to violence against women is too many, and deaths of women at the hands of men who profess to love and care for them has to end,” said Mrs Phillips.

Prudence Buist, CEO of COORDINARE said, “Through this two-year pilot, three crisis accommodation services will provide women and children with on-site GPs, nurses and service navigators. They will not need to leave the refuge to receive primary care including immunisation catch-up, age-appropriate health assessments, women’s health and more."

Family, domestic and sexual violence is a serious health issue that can affect people across generations. It has overlapping impacts on physical and mental health, and can lead to poor social outcomes, especially for women, children, and people from priority population groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Primary healthcare professionals are often the first people victim-survivors turn to for help, especially when dealing with injuries or mental health issues caused by abuse. Primary care plays a key role in recognising signs of domestic, family, and sexual violence, creating a safe space for disclosure, and providing essential health support.  

Ms Buist added, “The locations for this pilot program were selected following consultations with key stakeholders and community to validate local need. Eurobodalla, Goulburn and the Shoalhaven have significantly higher domestic violence reported assault rates than the NSW state average.

“The teams have received training to support victim-survivors with sensitivity and care that is built on trauma-informed, culturally responsive and collaborative principles. 

“As well as supporting women and children with the primary healthcare needs, Connect Well teams have access to flexible funding to support timely access to external services, such as specialists, speech therapists and occupational therapists. They also support the transition to long-term services after leaving the program and help coordinate between health, housing, justice and education services,” said Ms Buist.

“The program is shaped by ongoing consultation with crisis accommodation providers, health services and community organisations,” she said.

At this stage the only referral pathway into the program is via participating crisis accommodation services:
•    Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) – Nowra
•    South East Women and Children’s Services (SEWACS) Budjangal – Moruya
•    Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT – Goulburn 

This program is supported by funding from COORDINARE – South Eastern NSW PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program. As part of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-32, the Australian Government is funding local services to adapt a model first developed on the Central Coast of NSW.

Pictured front from left: Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips MP, Dr Summit Goudar, Dr Kylie Short, Dr Mariana Spadini dos Santos, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, The Hon Rebecca White; back row from left Penny Dordoy SAHSSI CEO, Prudence Buist COORDINARE CEO and Clare Warren, Quality, Safety and Risk Coordinator, Silverchain.

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