Family violence is a significant health problem in Australia. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation has outlined the specific role of nurses and midwives in identifying victims of abuse and facilitating access to support networks, while maintaining privacy and confidentiality.
Each state and territory has mandatory reporting laws for suspected child abuse. In all cases of violence, nurses and midwives have a duty to help empower victims, with the goal of preventing further harm, enhancing patient safety, and offering protection.
Nurses and midwives are in a unique position to identify victims of violence who may benefit from assistance. Therefore, screening for family violence must be a routine part of all patient care.
At the end of this module participants will be able to:
