Sunshine Coast Health staff have undergone training to empower them to stand up against domestic and family violence, at a special White Ribbon Day event.
With at least one presentation of domestic and family violence seen across the health service each day, the training empowers staff to recognise and respond to violence happening in their patients’ or colleagues’ lives.
“As an accredited White Ribbon association, we’re really encouraging staff to be able to stand up and speak up to try and end domestic and family violence," said Gaby Hesse.
“A lot of the time people are really uncomfortable with what to do if they see someone experiencing violence - how do they act and how do they challenge people who they know in their worlds who are using violence,” said Domestic and Family Violence Coordinator Gaby Hesse.
The bystander training session was held by Dean Cooper, a representative from White Ribbon, at Sunshine Coast University Hospital.
Bystander interventions have been shown to enhance men's and women's motivation to intervene, ability to intervene, and actual intervention involvement when they witness inappropriate behaviour.
"Bystander training equips people that are around and may see, hear or believe that something might be happening, to find the words to say or do something, as opposed to the consequence if we do nothing.
"It's particularly important for health care staff to be trained in bystander training, as hospitals are often a place of sanctuary for people that are seeking support to either leave a relationship or seek safety.
"One thing I'd like all bystanders to know is to consider the consequences if we do nothing. We send some pretty big messages if we stay silent, so sending a message at all is much better. Even saying 'I see you, I hear you, I acknowledge what's going on' and some validation is something."
Sunshine Coast Health has a dedicated domestic and family violence unit comprised of social workers who support staff for all domestic and family violence presentations.
The team helps frontline staff provide support for patients who present through emergency departments or are accessing care through mental health or children’s health.
“Ensuring staff know how to respond when people are disclosing what’s going on in their lives is really important to us," Ms Hesse said.