This content is part of a paid partnership with Monash University.
Are you a healthcare practitioner in Perth or Kalgoorlie wanting to expand your knowledge on sexual violence?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an estimated 2.2 million women aged 18 years and over (22%) have experienced sexual violence since the age of 15.
Many victim-survivors suffer in silence, without access to the support they deserve. Those that do disclose to a health professional need to be treated with care, understanding, and provided with informative resources.
Health practitioners can undertake free accredited training in recognising and responding to sexual violence in adults through Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine.
The course equips AHPRA registered healthcare workers with vital skills through a patient-centred and practical curriculum.
The course is delivered online and face-to-face across metro and regional areas. It comprises of three units which can be undertaken as standalone units or as a complete training suite.
It aims to address a gap in healthcare training, taking practitioners on a deep dive into the drivers and effects of sexual violence, and how to respond to adult disclosures and at-risk patients.
The course facilitators are all experts in the field, including doctors, nurses and counsellors with backgrounds in sexual violence response and practise in a range of disciplines.
Join the 894 frontline medical workers who have already completed at least one unit of this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) training across Australia.
Monash University is coming to Western Australia in May and June to deliver face-to-face training in both Perth and Kalgoorlie. There are still spots available for the full day intensives.
The evidence-based and trauma-informed information covered in each unit are as follows:
Sexual violence: drivers & impacts | online intake
This provides an evidence-based overview of prevalence, short- and long-term impacts, and an overview of justice responses.
Responding to sexual violence in adults | Perth Intake – 21st May 2025 | Kalgoorlie Intake – 18th June 2025
This focuses on a consultation with a patient who discloses that they have experienced sexual violence.
It will equip practitioners with an understanding of the challenges to disclosure; identification, assessment and management of risk; informed consent and capacity to consent; privacy and confidentiality; medical care; forensic principles, documentation and reporting; and referrals.
Responding to sexual violence in at-risk patients | Perth Intake – 23rd May 2025 | Kalgoorlie Intake – 20th June 2025
Focuses on care for patients who are more at-risk of experiencing sexual violence because of individual or multiple factors such as mental and/or physical disabilities, sex-work, living in institutional or aged care, LGBTQIA+ or cultural and linguistically diverse status.
Many of these individuals also face barriers in seeking help.
To register for the face-to-face training in Perth or Kalgoorlie visit Western Australia Training Registration Form.
More information about the course can be found here.
The training is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Social Services under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.