Domestic Violence Must Be Labelled a Public Health Crisis, Urge Next-Gen Doctors
Calls are intensifying to strengthen safe and appropriate first-line responses to domestic violence, with a growing chorus of next-generation doctors urging governments to formally recognise gendered violence as a preventable public health crisis. Gender-based abuse remains the leading cause of death and disability for Australian women aged 18 to 44, with one woman killed each week by a current or former partner. Australian women are three times more likely to experience violence from someone they know, yet many health professionals report limited formal training in recognising and responding to patient disclosures of violence.
Historical Minimisation and Systemic Consequences
According to University of Melbourne medical student Zoe Dowling, the reality of gendered violence and its widespread impact in Australia has been historically minimised and dismissed. This has had tangible consequences for how it is prioritised within the health system and by policymakers, despite billions of dollars invested in a 10-year national plan to end violence against women and children. "By not treating gendered violence as a serious and urgent public health issue, we'll continue to not provide the critical healthcare that survivors often need and under-utilise the systems and services that could be involved in early recognition and intervention," Ms Dowling emphasised.
She further noted that a lack of comprehensive data capturing the true prevalence and complexity of gendered violence, as well as the experiences of those who use violence, poses significant barriers for public policy think tanks working on this issue. Ms Dowling, who works as a sexual harm response coordinator while pursuing her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Public Health, recently received a scholarship from the Westpac Scholars Trust to support her research into large-scale interventions on domestic violence, policy reform, workforce training, and trauma-informed service design.
Inadequate Medical Training and the Need for Reform
During her four-year medical degree, Ms Dowling revealed there was only one face-to-face session and one online module dedicated to recognising gendered violence and trauma-informed care. She advocates for this topic to be embedded into every year of medical education. "It's not that we need every healthcare worker to provide ongoing specialised gendered violence support," she explained. "We need people in the health system to understand gendered violence enough to be able to recognise the nuanced early warning signs and provide a safe and sensitive first-line response, which includes referral to the right support services."
Government Initiatives and Ongoing Challenges
Since 2020, the federal government-funded Readiness Program has aimed to train primary care providers to effectively recognise, respond, refer, and record domestic and family violence. Developed by the University of Melbourne's Safer Families Centre, the program boldly seeks to transform the entire health system's response to domestic, family, and sexual violence. An interim evaluation has shown it is strengthening responses in primary care and increasing referrals to specialist services.
However, Ms Dowling highlighted a critical gap: even when health professionals ask patients about gendered violence and refer them to support, dangerously long wait times often prevent access to help. "Safe and appropriate first-line responses are critical," she stressed. "A supportive initial response to a disclosure of violence has a direct impact on someone's willingness to seek further help and support. It's essential that recognition and response education is coupled with the development of strong and established pathways to support."
For immediate assistance, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Lifeline 13 11 14, or the Men's Referral Service 1300 766 491.
