LIFELINE Mid Coast is contributing to the push to end domestic violence in many ways, significantly with the only nationally accredited Domestic Violence Response Training program.
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The program - DV Alert - enables health, allied health and frontline workers to confidently: recognise signs of domestic and family violence; respond with appropriate care; and refer affected individuals and families to relevant support services.
The two-day free training in Port Macquarie, yesterday and today, had 22 participants from the Hastings, Manning and Sydney.
"The gentleman came up from the Wayside Chapel to do the course because it is the only one on offer this month," said program coordinator Di Bannister.
The attendees complete various exercises and have discussions on how to recognise the signs someone is suffering through domestic violence when it may not necessarily be part of their job purview.
"Women are turning up to hospital injured, and hospital staff are not recognising it's a result of domestic violence, and therefore not referring these women to other services, and hence the repeat cycle." Ms Bannister said.
Domestic violence is when someone who has a close relationship with you harms you, controls you or makes you feel afraid and unsafe.
Anyone can experience domestic violence - female and male, rich and poor, young and old, people in same-sex relationships, between partners and ex-partners, people with disabilities, across all cultures, religious beliefs and places.
Lifeline said 98 per cent of Australians recognise violence against women and their children is a crime.
However, the prevalence of violence continues to be unacceptably high.
Lifeline developed DV Alert for frontline workers such as those at the course at Port City Bowling Club yesterday and today.
Workers from the Taree Women's Refuge, early childhood care, Interrelate, Nortec staffing, nurses, and students from Charles Sturt University studying advocacy and social work, all will take away with them a greater awareness of domestic violence thanks to the Lifeline program.
"I'm excited to bring the DV Alert program to this region, because it's a world class training program. Better still it's funded by FASCIA [Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs] and therefore cost neutral to participants," Ms Bannister said.
