Western Victoria PHN (WVPHN) recognises family and domestic violence is a major health and welfare issue in our community.
It has both immediate and long-term impacts, often leading to physical and psychological harms and impacts on social health and wellbeing, safety, finances, and a person’s work life.
Family and domestic violence occurs across all ages, socio-economic and demographic groups. However women and children are disproportionately represented as victim survivors.
We pledge to offer our professional and personal support to staff impacted by family and domestic violence,
We will ensure they are supported and connected with relevant services and will do all that we can to change behaviours and community attitudes through our practice, education and advocacy.
Together, we will work towards a future where our community is free from family and domestic violence and where healthy, respectful relationships flourish.
WVPHN adopts the definition of family violence as outlined by the Family Violence Protection Act (2008) acknowledging that the definition of family in First Nations and diverse communities may be broader. Our position is also underpinned by the principles of human rights and social justice.
Definition of family violence, Family Protection Act (2008) s. 5
(1) For the purposes of this Act, family violence is—
(a) behaviour by a person towards a family member of that person if that behaviour—
(i) is physically or sexually abusive; or
(ii) is emotionally or psychologically abusive; or
(iii) is economically abusive; or
(iv) is threatening; or
(v) is coercive; or
(vi) in any other way controls or dominates the family member and causes that family member to feel fear for the safety or wellbeing of that family member or another person; or
(b) behaviour by a person that causes a child to hear or witness, or otherwise be exposed to the effects of, behaviour referred to in paragraph (a).