Family and domestic violence (FDV) and gender-based violence

Family and domestic violence (FDV) is a pattern of ongoing, repetitive and purposeful use of physical, emotional, social, financial and / or sexual abuse used to intimidate and instil fear. Such behaviour enables the one person to control and have power over another person in an intimate or family relationship.

It’s behaviour which results in physical, sexual and / or psychological damage, forced social isolation, economic deprivation or behaviour which causes the victim to live in fear. The term is usually used where abuse and violence take place in intimate partner relationships including same sex relationships, between siblings, from adolescents to parents or from family carers to a relative or a relative with disability.

Gender-based violence is violence directed against a person on the basis of gender, frequently as a form of family and domestic violence. It constitutes a breach of the fundamental right to life, liberty, security, dignity, non-discrimination and physical and mental integrity.

Support is available at KEMH

Family and Domestic Violence (FDV) can happen to anyone, and pregnancy is considered a high-risk time for women. Every woman who attends King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) for antenatal care will be screened privately for FDV by their midwife during a clinic appointment.

There is a dedicated and skilled team of social workers at who are available to support women who are experiencing FDV during pregnancy. Social work services are also available to mothers experiencing FDV who have a sick or premature baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

If you are experiencing FDV or would like to access any of the social work department services, you can let any member of your KEMH healthcare team know that you would like to speak confidentially to a social worker.

The KEMH social work department is located on the Lower Ground Floor in B Block and is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday to Friday. Walk in appointments are available.

Resources

Finding Help Before and After Baby Arrives booklet (PDF)

Community based women’s health services, sexual assault support services (SASS) and unplanned pregnancy counselling programs

The Women’s Health Strategy and Programs provide a range of services including health promotion, information, counselling and clinical support to prevent, promote and maintain health of women.

The funded sexual assault support services (SASS) provide a variety of crisis and ongoing counselling services for victims of sexual assault as well as, in some areas, therapeutic groups and health promotion activities. They work in partnership with other agencies and have established links with other organisations such as Aboriginal Health Services and local government departments. These services are for both men and women.