For the first time ever, Australia’s health practitioner regulators have united to call for an end to family violence.
The five regulators: The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and the National Boards, The Office of the Health Ombudsman (Queensland), The Health Care Complaints Commission (NSW) and The Health Professional Councils Authority (NSW), issued a joint statement on Wednesday, November 27, reminding practitioners of the critical contribution they can make in Australia’s response to tackling family violence.
The statement recognises the role of regulators in the collective effort to end family violence by supporting victim-survivors, setting clear expectations of health practitioners, taking regulatory action as appropriate and condemning all forms of family violence.
Health practitioners are also reminded that their own conduct, as well as that of their colleagues, must reflect the trust and confidence the public have in them for safe and effective healthcare.
The regulators encouraged anyone aware of a health practitioner perpetrating family violence to provide information to the police and appropriate regulatory body.
A list of health practitioner regulator contact details as well as police, family violence information and support services are included in the joint position statement.
The joint position statement can viewed at ahpra.gov.au/Resources/Joint-Position-on-Family-Violence.aspx
