Today, my friend and colleague Jane 
Christensen and I attended the launch of a project we’ve been working on for a few months: Strengthening Hospital Responses to Family Violence.
A joint initiative of the Women’s and Bendigo Health, it’s a set of resources for hospitals to train staff who are often the first point of contact for women experiencing family violence. It also includes material designed to encourage patients to talk to health professionals. Jane and I were really proud to be involved, and the work – guided by consultation with community groups and beautifully illustrated by Rosanna Vecchio – looks great. We think so, anyway.
They even gave us a badge.
The launch itself was wonderful. The welcome to country by Aunty Di Kerr brought tears to my eyes, and the honesty with which Emma Giershick, a White Ribbon advocate, told her personal story silenced the room.
At the launch the Minister for Health, the Hon. Jill Hennessy announced a $1.2 million commitment to the project. The funding will support 14 health services to implement the SHRFV service model during 2016/17. That’s a win, I think.
