- Pilot
to integrate legal services and women's health services
- Easier
access for women experiencing the trauma of family and domestic violence
- Health
and legal support provided in a
culturally secure and safe place
- Two
pilots to be trialled in Kalgoorlie and Northbridge
A trial to integrate legal services with women's health services will be
rolled out in Kalgoorlie and Northbridge – boosting support for women who have
experienced family and domestic violence.
Supported by a $360,0000 grant, the Women's Legal Service WA (WLSWA)
Health Partnership will provide women with wraparound health and legal services
– all in one safe space.
This innovative partnership will help clinicians identify and respond to women
experiencing domestic and family violence, and make specialist legal services
more accessible to those who would otherwise not access this information and
assistance.
The two sites selected to trial the pilot are Women's Health and Family
Services in Northbridge and the Goldfields Women's Health Care Centre in
Kalgoorlie. These will provide a seamless integration
for legal, physical, psychosocial and other health-related matters.
Funded by the Cook Government through WA Health and in partnership with WLSWA,
the pilot will provide health clinic staff with opportunities to identify and
respond to clients' legal needs.
It will also give lawyers a better understanding of their clients'
health concerns in relation to their legal matters. Integrating legal services
with women's health centres aligns with the Sustainable Health Review, which
aims to deliver person-centred, equitable and seamless access to healthcare.
This initiativealso aligns with the National Plan to
Reduce Violence against Women, the Youth Justice Strategy, and The Path to
Safety: Western Australia's Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence
2020 – 2023.
The pilot will focus on providing services to a range of groups
including women and families, remote and rural communities and culturally and
linguistically (CALD) people.
Comments attributed to Health Minister
Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"This service will offer a wide range of services to support vulnerable
women in our community.
"Helping
women move forward from the trauma associated with family and domestic violence
is a priority for the State Government.
"Offering
the pilot program at both a metropolitan and regional site will mean more women
will be able to access ongoing health and legal support in a safe space that is
familiar to them."
Comments
attributed to Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine
Winton:
"When
people experiencing family and domestic violence decide to get help, it can be
overwhelming working out where to start. We don't want people to face that
barrier.
"Being able
to access legal assistance and health services in the one place is so important
for victim-survivors to not only escape family and domestic violence, but also
help them to rebuild their lives."
