CAWLS is currently running the ‘Local Link’ pilot project through the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN) to increase the capacity of local primary care services to recognise and respond to DFSV and Child Sexual Abuse (CSA) presentations.
As part of the pilot initiative, CAWLS has been working directly with several primary care providers in Central Australia to implement a localised model to support primary health staff and strengthen the responsiveness of the primary care sector.
The project includes three core components: training, governance support and setting up a secondary consultation service.
CAWLS works with participating primary care partners to undertake a training needs analysis to inform the delivery of a suite of training sessions, covering topics ranging from screening for DFV, the intersections between DFV and Child Protection and how to identify and respond to vicarious trauma.
Under the NT Risk Assessment and Management Framework (NT RAMF), staff of universal services have a responsibility to screen and provide an initial response to DFSV. Supporting organisational governance processes is critical to ensuring staff feel confident in undertaking screening and responding to DFSV, and ultimately that patients are connected to the most appropriate supports following a disclosure.
The final element of this pilot is a secondary consultation service. The secondary consultation service is currently being established and will connect clinical staff to specialist DFSV expertise and support, who will provide confidential advice to enhance response to disclosures, including reflective practice mentoring and identification of appropriate referral pathways and immediate safety planning options.
Current primary care partners include Purple House (Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation), Pintupi Homelands Health Service, Urapuntja Health Service, NT Health Flynn Drive Maternal and Child Health Team, Ntaria Health Centre and Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, amongst others.
If your primary health care team is interested in receiving training under the Local Link program, please contact education@cawls.com.au.