Northern Health recognises that family violence is a prevalent and serious health issue that has profound impacts on the physical and psychological wellbeing of victim-survivors.
Family violence is a behaviour by a person towards a family member that is physically or sexually abusive, emotionally or psychologically abusive, economically abusive, threatening or controlling and causes that person to fear for their safety.
Family violence affects individuals of all ages across the lifespan. Victim-survivors of family violence are part of our communities, workplaces, schools, community groups and present to our health service each and every day. The health service is a critical entry point for many victim-survivors, creating an opportunity for early identification, risk assessment, support and referral.
Northern Health is committed to creating a safe environment and reducing barriers for victim- survivors to disclose violence to their health professional and receive support and access to safety.
In response to the Family Violence Legal Reforms and the introduction of the Multi-Agency Risk Assessment & Management (MARAM) Framework, we have implemented a whole-of-hospital approach to address this serious health issue. A whole-of-hospital approach is essential to effectively identify and respond to family violence, as disclosures can occur at any stage of a patient’s healthcare journey. This approach promotes collaborative, coordinated and consistent practice across the organisation. It also ensures that all staff – both clinical and non-clinical – understand their role and responsibilities under the MARAM Framework.
Northern Health has reached a significant milestone with the completion of 12,000 Family Violence MARAM Screening & Identification Tools across the organisation in 2025. This equates to an average of 1,000 Tools completed each month, with current trends indicating that we are on track to exceed this achievement in 2026. A substantial proportion of these screenings have been completed in the Emergency Department, Short Stay Unit, Ward 6, Women’s and Children’s Services and the Abortion Service.
Tanya Ellis, Strengthening Hospital Response to Family Violence (SHRFV) Program Manager says, “This significant achievement reflects an excellent level of organisational engagement and compliance with MARAM Practice. It also demonstrates the dedication and commitment of staff across all disciplines to provide evidence-based and trauma-informed care.”
Completing the MARAM Tool is more than just a procedural requirement – it is a critical step in ensuring that our patients are seen, heard, believed and supported to access safety. By consistently completing the MARAM Tool, staff are supporting:
- Early identification of family violence through recognising signs and risk factors
- Risk assessment and safety planning
- Information sharing
- Enhanced patient health, safety and wellbeing
- Timely referrals to Social Work and specialist services
Social Workers at Northern Health campuses play a significant role when disclosures of family violence are made. Sarah Wotherspoon, Social Work Senior Clinician, who works in the Emergency Department/Short Stay Unit/Ward 6, as well as the Abortion Service says, “Social Workers are well placed to respond to disclosures of family violence. We work with a trauma-informed lens and have the skills and knowledge to sensitively explore risk and safety plan with victim-survivors.”
Northern Health is a family violence-informed health service where all of our staff members and volunteers receive mandatory training, and we are proudly one of the most extensively MARAM trained hospitals in Victoria.
Tanya says, “We have significantly strengthened our response to family violence, but we are committed to continuing to build on our knowledge, skills, and capacity in this complex area to ensure we provide the highest standard of care our patients who are at risk of violence.”
“Thank-you to all staff across the organisation who continue to contribute to this important work and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of our patients and their families experiencing violence.”
The SHRFV Program is available to provide specialist consultation and facilitate family violence education. Please contact the SHRFV Program or your ward Social Worker if you would like to organise training in your area on 8405 8519.
Pictured in featured image: Tanya Ellis (SHRFV Program Manager); Daniel Crompton (ED Director); Amanda Paleologos (ED NUM); Salimma Mathew (ED NUM); Earvin Querrer (SSU NUM); Jodie Lees (SSU CSN); Sarah Wotherspoon (Senior Social Worker); Jessica Grgat (Social Worker) and Tamika Zecevic (Social Worker)