Domestic and Family Violence Linker
Care and Connect Linkers have been engaged as part of our Care and Connect program to provide support for general practices, across the Nepean Blue Mountains region and minimise the waiting times for referral to appropriate services for patients.
The Care and Connect Linkers will be able to offer your practice advice, support and information to better enable identification and response to domestic and family violence.
Patient support
Your Care and Connect Linker can provide your patient with over the phone, or face to face, support regarding DFSV on:
- Initial support and advice
- Information/referral regarding relevant support services (housing, counselling, financial management)
- Advice on next steps (securing an AVO, safety and security)
- Undertake risk assessment and safety planning
- Information or referral to behaviour change programs
Practice support
Your Care and Connect Linker can provide your practice with over the phone, or face to face, support on:
- Information on best steps when managing patients affected by DFSV
- Information sessions on the role of general practice in responding to DFSV
- Information on relevant training opportunities
- Discuss de-identified cases/scenarios with best practice outcomes
- Information sessions on how to undertake risk assessments and safety planning.
About Our Care and Connect Linkers - Relationships Australia
Relationships Australia NSW has been supporting couples and families to have healthy safe relationships since 1948, and more specifically over the last 30 years has provided specialised services to address the prevalence and impact of DFSV in our community.
Jodie is the project lead for the Nepean Blue Mountains and is also the contact for Hawkesbury and Penrith regions. Her extensive expertise in DFV and Mental Health spans more than 14 years, working alongside allied health professionals, co-ordinating support plans for patients, case management for both male and female victims of DFSV, counselling, training and therapeutic groupwork facilitation including DFV psycho-education. She is experienced at helping patients move forward and build resilient and healthy future relationships. Jodie works with people from a range of diverse backgrounds, and assists with safety planning, advocacy, and referrals to support services.
Jodie can be contacted via email or at 0435 753 497.
Kelsey is the Care and Connect Linker for the Blue Mountains and Lithgow regions and is experienced in working in the mental health and DFV sector, which includes outreach visits, group facilitation and client advocacy. Kelsey has an in-depth understanding of DFV, working in triage and assessment, multi-agency case management teams and crisis support within emergency accommodation. Kelsey works with people from diverse backgrounds, and assists with safety planning, advocacy, and referrals to support services, whilst helping patients move forward and build resilient and healthy future relationships.
Kelsey can be contacted via email or at 0423 263 134.
Download Referral Form/s: Domestic Family & Sexual Violence (DFSV) Action Plan for Best Practice, Domestic Family & Sexual Violence (DFSV) for Medical Director.
