Royal North Shore Hospital’s emergency department is in the running for top honours at the NSW Premier’s Awards for their domestic and family violence routine screening program.  

The team has been nominated as a finalist in the Securing Justice and Opportunity for Vulnerable People category for the pilot screening program which uses a multidisciplinary approach to identify women at risk of domestic and family violence and provide psychosocial support. 

Specialist registered nurses screen all women over 16 years who present to the ED, with those identified as at risk of harm provided with appropriate referral and management strategies. A total of 16,380 women were screened in the past 12 months, with more than 400 identified as at risk of harm and provided access to immediate support.

RNSH ED Clinical Nurse Consultant Lesley Fitzpatrick said staff undertook the pilot project to improve identification of women at risk of domestic and family violence to provide access to immediate, ongoing psychosocial response, and support services for victim-survivors. 

“It has been a great experience to work with the team of nurses, doctors, executive team, social workers, prevention and response to violence abuse and neglect service (PARVAN), and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Service to respond to our patients’ experience of domestic violence.”
Lesley said the team were honoured to be a finalist for the award. 

“We have demonstrated that with multi-agency collaboration, innovation, leadership, and dedication we could achieve the highest international screening rates across emergency departments,” Lesley said. 

“The project has scope to be implemented in all emergency departments throughout NSW.” 

Selection as a finalist in the NSW Premier’s Awards is a highly regarded and recognised title demonstrating the highest levels of achievement in the NSW public sector. The awards ceremony is being held on Tuesday 20 November and can be watched on the Premier’s Awards website.