Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) envisions a future where primary healthcare professionals in western Victoria are empowered with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively transform primary care responses to family, domestic, and sexual violence, including child abuse (FDSV).

WVPHN is expanding our existing Family Violence Pilot to include Sexual Violence (SV) and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA). To successfully incorporate SV and CSA into our revised Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FSDV) pilot, the voices of primary care, specialised Sexual Violence, including Child Sexual Abuse Specialised Services, and People with Lived Experience will be critical to the overall success of the project.

In line with our strategic priority of Co-Design to Expand Scope, we are committed to equipping General Practices (primary healthcare professionals) in western Victoria with the tools and knowledge to effectively respond to cases of Sexual Violence and Child Sexual Abuse.

INFORMATION UPDATE

September 2025

Seeking Feedback for a new Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Study

GPs and family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) services are being invited to participate in a new national initiative aimed at enhancing service collaboration and, ultimately, improving care outcomes for victim-survivors. As part of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s FDSV Pilot Project, Western Victoria Primary Health Network (WVPHN) is leading a multi-state study to explore how general practices and FDSV services can work more effectively together to support victim-survivors.

The study titled, Enhancing collaboration between the family and sexual violence sectors and general practice: understanding opportunities and barriers, is in partnership with Brisbane South Primary Health Network (BSPHN), Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECCPHN), and Capital Health Network (ACTPHN). Together, these PHNs are working with WVPHN to interview general practitioners, FDSV sector specialists, and sector leaders across four Australian states and territories.

The study is being carried out by a team of experienced researchers, including: Dr Melinda Gill, a GP and FDSV consultant; Dr Johanna Lynch, Clinical Advisor and academic; Felicia Lee, Co-Researcher; and Emily Learey, WVPHN’s FDSV Project Lead, with oversight from the Sax Institute, the national evaluator of the FDSV Pilot.

GPs that have received family and/or sexual violence training through the FDSV Pilot Project will be invited to participate in a short interview over the months of October and November 2025.

By understanding and addressing barriers—and identifying opportunities—for stronger collaboration between general practice and the FDSV sector, the study aims to improve care pathways and outcomes for victim-survivors. It builds on existing research and seeks to generate practical recommendations for future engagement, integration, and system-level support.

Findings from the study will be shared with stakeholders, published in peer-reviewed journals, and used to inform future policy, funding, and program design.

To learn more or get involved, email Emily Learey, FDSV Project Lead at fdsvproject@westvicphn.com.au

March 2025

Three New Sexual Violence Service Providers Join our Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Pilot

In a significant step towards bolstering primary care responses to Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence (FDSV), including child sexual abuse, three new service providers have joined Western Victoria Primary Health Network’s (WVPHN) FDSV Pilot Project to provide Sexual Violence Integrators.

The Sexual Assault and Family Violence (SAFV) Centre, Ballarat Centre Against Sexual Assault (Ballarat CASA), and Southwest Centre Against Sexual Assault (SWCASA) were all successful in an open tender to provide the bespoke role of Sexual Violence Integrators. They join the existing Family Violence Integrator providers, the Centre for Non-Violence and Grampians Community Health; Southwest CASA now provides both Family Violence and Sexual Violence Integrators.

Aligning with the pilot’s existing Family Violence Integrators, the Sexual Violence Integrators will provide in-the-field FDSV training and support-service delivery to general practices and other providers across the WVPHN region.

The inclusion of the Sexual Violence Integrator roles into WVPHN’s FDSV pilot (2023-2026) marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing efforts to address FDSV in western Victoria. Adding Sexual Violence Integrators will further strengthen and expand the primary care support available to victims and survivors, ensuring they receive the right care at the right time, within a trauma-informed and person-centred response framework.

By integrating the FDSV expertise and support available to primary care, the pilot program will be better equipped to offer multidisciplinary integrated support and intervention strategies by both family violence and sexual violence specialists located within western Victoria. This collaborative approach underscores WVPHN’s commitment to creating a safer and more responsive primary care environment.

WVPHN will be offering opportunities for general practices and other primary care providers in our region to apply for the free and incentivised FDSV Training and Support Program over the course of 2025-2026, continually tailoring and adapting the program to suit primary health services in our region. These opportunities will be promoted via WVPHN’s website, Westvic News, and direct promotion to our primary care stakeholders.

For more information, or to be kept directly informed please email fdsvproject@westvicphn.com.au

Tender Open