Family violence poses a significant health risk for people in Aotearoa New Zealand. As victims of abuse seek health care more often than individuals who have not experienced abuse, healthcare professionals are well placed to well placed to offer support and respond to identified health and safety concerns.
We have a violence intervention programme in place aimed at responding and supporting victims of family violence. It is underpinned by the Ministry of Health’s family violence guidelines.
These guidelines are practical tools to help health providers to ask questions about patients’ safety, to intervene effectively and offer support for victims of violence and abuse. They set out principles of intervention that apply to a number of health professions and a number of clinical settings.
A key component of our violence intervention programme is collaboration with other agencies. We have working relationships with Women’s Refuge, other local groups involved in preventing family violence, and government agencies including the Police and Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children.
Find out more:
Family violence guidelines: Guidelines from the Ministry on family violence assessment and intervention.
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