A retrospective review of Bendigo Health's data reveals at least one local woman a week is hospitalised due to family violence.
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But chronic under-reporting has led health professionals to believe the real figure is far higher.
That’s why Bendigo Health is continuing a push to strengthen its staff response to suspected victims of family violence.
Bendigo Health's executive director of nursing Peter Faulkner said victims commonly presented to hospital with bruising or fractures, and many found it difficult to disclose their violent situation.
“I think it is a shocking number, but I also think it is an under-representation of the reality,” Mr Faulkner said.
“I'm sure the prevalence is much higher than that [one presentation per week].”
He said the figure included women who came to the emergency department, but did not have to be admitted.
A pilot program, in conjunction with the Women’s Hospital in Melbourne, saw staff armed with the training they needed to identify family violence cases, and sensitively ask patients and refer them to frontline services.
Though the pilot officially ended in June this year, Bendigo Health has continued the good work to make inroads in helping victims.
“We just figured that having started this, it's not something you just stop,” Mr Faulkner said.
“We have not been as sensitive to identification as we will be in future. It is still a stigmatised position that individuals find themselves in and very difficult to disclose, for a variety of complex personal and social reasons.”
He said the hospital was “optimistic” they had taken a strong steps in training – specifically targeting their emergency, women’s, and psychiatric health departments to be on the alert for family violence warning signs.
He said the hospital was eagerly awaiting a report from the state department of health, set to outline a blueprint for all hospitals to adopt.
He said Bendigo Health also hoped their example could be replicated at other hospitals across the Loddon Mallee region.
Doctors and nurses at Bendigo Health may often be the first to know about a victim’s experience of family violence.
Mr Faulkner said staff were not only well-placed to identify potential victims and refer them to support services.
Staff are also a “microcosm of society” and may also be victims or perpetrators.
“We're a health service, not a welfare agency as such, so our role is to address any injuries and other effects of family violence,” he said.
If you or someone you know is experiencing violence or sexual assault, phone 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.