The Women’s and Children’s Health Network (WCHN) has welcomed the launch of a new healthcare service dealing with domestic and family violence saying it has strengthened its response to domestic and family violence.
Director of Youth and Women’s Safety and Wellbeing Division for WCHN, Katrina Dee, said the new‘Cedar Health Service’s Inclusive Domestic and Family Violence Healthcare was formed through the amalgamation of the Multi-Agency Protection Service, Women’s Health Service and the Women’s Safety Strategy.
“By bringing them together under one banner we’ve created a specialist healthcare service,” Ms Dee said.
“For some time, our Health Network has supported women affected by domestic and family violence (DFV), but with this new service, we have expanded our remit to become truly inclusive, supporting the healthcare needs of victim/survivors regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” she said.
“That means that our service will be accessible to members of the LGBTIQ+ community as well as men who are experiencing DFV.”
Ms Dee said the Cedar Health Service offered multi-disciplinary care, providing a pathway for consumers to get the healthcare they needed, which might otherwise be difficult to access.
“Cedar Health Service offers counselling with social workers, health checks with doctors and nurses, as well as culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and refugee/migrant communities,” she said.
The Director said the service would also play an important role in supporting health professionals who encountered DFV victim survivors in their daily work.
Ms Dee said anyone whose health was being impacted by domestic or family violence could call 8444 0700, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, to speak to a nurse or social worker.
For 24-hour crisis care, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) and if you are in immediate danger call 000.
Further information on the Cedar Health Service can be accessed at this PS News link.
