The Occupational Therapy Council of Australia Ltd (OTC) has joined with Ahpra, National Boards, and accreditation authorities in issuing a joint statement that recognises and responds to family, domestic and sexual violence.
Family, domestic and sexual violence (FDSV) has significant and far-reaching impacts on individuals, families and communities and presents a significant challenge for Australia’s health system. Health practitioners are often in a unique position to recognise the signs of violence, respond appropriately, and support individuals to access assistance and services.
As the accreditation authority for occupational therapy in Australia, the OTC recognises the important role accreditation plays in ensuring the health workforce is equipped with the knowledge, skills and professional capabilities required to respond safely, respectfully and compassionately to people affected by family, domestic and sexual violence.
Through its support of the joint statement, the OTC reaffirms its commitment to:
- supporting the development of a health workforce capable of recognising and responding appropriately to family, domestic and sexual violence
- promoting standards that support the development of relevant professional knowledge, skills and capabilities
- working collaboratively with education providers, regulators, accreditation authorities and the broader health sector to strenghten worforce preparedness, and
- contributing to a coordinated national response to improve outcomes for individuals, families and communities affected by family, domestic and sexual violence.
Ms Anne Szadura, CEO, OTC said the statement reflects a shared commitment across the health sector to ensuring practitioners are prepared to respond to this important issue.
“Occupational therapists work across a broad range of settings and frequently support individuals and families experiencing complex health and social circumstances. It is important that graduates entering the profession are equipped to recognise family, domestic and sexual violence and respond in a manner that is safe, informed, trauma-aware and person-centred.
The OTC is pleased to support this important sector-wide initiative and to work collaboratively with our partners to strengthen the capacity of the health workforce to support those affected by family, domestic and sexual violence.”
The OTC acknowledges the collaborative approach taken in developing the joint statement and welcomes the opportunity to demonstrate collective leadership and commitment across the health professions in addressing family, domestic and sexual violence.
The Joint Statement can be found here.