Recognising and Responding to Sexual Violence in Adults

Nurses and midwives can now access free accredited CPD training in identifying and responding to patients who have experienced sexual violence. Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine developed the training, and it is delivered by forensic medical and nursing specialists. Content development was undertaken in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including nurses and midwives across metropolitan and regional settings.

This training program is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032. Each six-hour unit is delivered over a six-week period. Practitioners can register for one, two or all three units. Every unit has two co-facilitators with expertise in supporting patients who disclose sexual violence in clinical settings. Course participants attend two one-hour interactive zoom sessions and work through four hours of interactive content.

Three units have been developed to build practitioner confidence and skills to respond to and support patients who have experienced sexual assault.

Unit 1 – Sexual Violence: Drivers and Impacts. An overview of the sociological drivers of sexual violence; impacts on the individual and the community; barriers to disclosure; the justice system and support services; vicarious trauma and unconscious bias.

Unit 2 – Responding to Sexual Violence in Adults. Focus is on the patient consultation, trauma informed communication, examination and documentation, safety assessment, medical care and referrals.

Unit 3 – Responding to Sexual Violence in At-Risk Patients. Focused on the needs of patients who are most vulnerable to sexual violence. This can include those with disability, older adults; LGBTQI+; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; homeless youth, sex workers  and patients from cultural and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Register at:
https://www.monash.edu/medicine/sphpm/study/professional-education/responding-to-sexual-violence

If you have any questions about this training opportunity please contact svtraining@monash.edu

 

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