Project Details
Description
Violence against women is a significant human rights issue, as one in three women globally has experienced physical and/or sexual
violence in their lifetime. The Northern Territory (NT) has some of the highest rates of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) in the country,
with First Nations women disproportionately affected by violence, and experiencing hospitalisation rates 33 times higher than nonIndigenous women. This alarming scenario signifies a public health crisis in the NT, as intimate partner violence has been identified as the
most burdensome risk factor for women aged 18-44 years. The Emergency Department (ED) often serves as the first point of contact within
the health system for women experiencing DFV, necessitating healthcare staff to respond appropriately and effectively. However, systemic
barriers rooted in patriarchal and colonial power structures persist and hinder access to appropriate care and safety for women with
experiences of DFV.
Despite existing studies on DFV-related hospital presentations in the NT, there is a notable lack of research centring on the voices of
women with lived experience, particularly regarding their care in the ED context. This research aims to address this gap by exploring how
experiences of care and safety can be improved for women experiencing DFV who present to the ED. The primary aim of this research is to
centre lived experience knowledge in understanding the need for enhanced care and safety for DFV-related ED presentations. Key
objectives include conducting a scoping review of ED-based DFV care models, mapping service utilisation and conducting a cost analysis of
DFV-related ED presentations at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals, exploring experiences of care through qualitative
analysis with women with lived experience and service providers, and facilitating sensemaking workshops with stakeholders to
collaboratively analysis data and identify priority areas for improvement. This research seeks to inform health policy and service delivery
changes to better support women experiencing DFV in the NT.
violence in their lifetime. The Northern Territory (NT) has some of the highest rates of Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) in the country,
with First Nations women disproportionately affected by violence, and experiencing hospitalisation rates 33 times higher than nonIndigenous women. This alarming scenario signifies a public health crisis in the NT, as intimate partner violence has been identified as the
most burdensome risk factor for women aged 18-44 years. The Emergency Department (ED) often serves as the first point of contact within
the health system for women experiencing DFV, necessitating healthcare staff to respond appropriately and effectively. However, systemic
barriers rooted in patriarchal and colonial power structures persist and hinder access to appropriate care and safety for women with
experiences of DFV.
Despite existing studies on DFV-related hospital presentations in the NT, there is a notable lack of research centring on the voices of
women with lived experience, particularly regarding their care in the ED context. This research aims to address this gap by exploring how
experiences of care and safety can be improved for women experiencing DFV who present to the ED. The primary aim of this research is to
centre lived experience knowledge in understanding the need for enhanced care and safety for DFV-related ED presentations. Key
objectives include conducting a scoping review of ED-based DFV care models, mapping service utilisation and conducting a cost analysis of
DFV-related ED presentations at Royal Darwin and Palmerston Regional Hospitals, exploring experiences of care through qualitative
analysis with women with lived experience and service providers, and facilitating sensemaking workshops with stakeholders to
collaboratively analysis data and identify priority areas for improvement. This research seeks to inform health policy and service delivery
changes to better support women experiencing DFV in the NT.
| Status | Not started |
|---|
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint.