Information 1-3

  • Includes physical, psychological, emotional, financial material, coercive control, sexual abuse and neglect
  • Identifying domestic and family violence (DFV) early allows for clinicians to support people to lead safe lives by preventing harm from violence
  • For those with low functional capacity consider Advance Care Planning to assist with a persons long term care wishes

Health check recommendations

  • All adults > 15 years of age annually

1. Procedure

  • Ask the questions in Table 1.
  • Identify if the person is at risk of harm or violence
  • The person may or may not disclose DFV during early presentations
  • Speak with the person alone and in private
  • When exploring ask direct questions
  • Listen to and acknowledge what the person is saying
  • Validate their experience and reassure them that experiencing violence is not their fault, they have a right to feel safe, and that help is available
  • Provide brief intervention and resources as required
  • Determine if the person requires a referral and place on a follow-up and recall register

Table 1. DFV question

Question

Explore

Is the person exposed to violence?

  • Verbal abuse, financial or material restrictions, physical harm, coercive control, social isolation, withholding basic necessities
  • Who is the perpetrator?
  • Who else knows about it?

2. Results 1–3

  • All people should be free of all forms of violence

3. Brief intervention 1–3

  • Everyone is at risk of family, domestic and sexual violence, especially vulnerable groups; women, children and the elderly
  • Physical abuse: The infliction of pain or injury e.g. slapping, hitting, kicking, force feeding, restraint, striking with an object
  • Psychological emotional abuse: The infliction of mental anguish e.g. verbal aggression, threats, threat of institutionalisation, social isolation, humiliating, demeaning or demoralising statements
  • Financial material abuse: The illegal or improper exploitation or use of funds or resources e.g. theft of money or cheques, coercion to deprive an older person of their assets
  • Coercive control: A pattern of abusive behaviours over time that hurt, humiliate, isolate, frighten, or threaten another person in order to control or dominate them
  • Sexual abuse: Non-consensual contact of any kind e.g. suggestive talk, forced sexual activity, touching or fondling of a competent or non-competent person
  • Neglect: The intentional or unintentional refusal or failure of a person or designated caregiver to meet the needs of a person’s wellbeing e.g. failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, medical care, hygiene or social stimulation
  • Develop a safety plan with the person. See Resource 1.
  • Ask the person at each presentation about abuse
  • Repeated presentations over time indicates a pattern of violence or escalation
  • Provide Resources 2–6.

4. Referral

  • If you have any concerns about a person refer to the MO/NP
  • Where immediate protection for person is required consult MO/NP/social worker and with consent, refer to:
    • local police service
    • refuge/emergency accommodation
    • local sexual assault service if a sexual assault has occurred
    • mental health services if person is at risk of suicide or self-harm
  • For children at risk see Child safety reporting
  • See Resources 2–5. for further support and referral options

5. Follow-up

  • Place the person on a recall register if required
  • Ensure all referrals are actioned
  • Provide the person with details for the next scheduled follow-up appointment

6. References

7. Resources

  1. Violence safety plan and The Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT comprehensive safety plan
  2. National sexual assault contacts and Queensland sexual assault contact resources
  3. The Elder Abuse Helpline and the Queensland Elder Abuse Prevention Unit
  4. The Public Guardian
  5. Queensland Health Victim Support Service
  6. DFV connect

Last updated: September 2024

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