Excellence in Staff Development Ambulance Victoria’s Family Violence Continuing Education

Ambulance Victoria

Ambulance Victoria (AV) has transformed professional development for paramedics with the introduction of multi-modal learning. As part of this new approach, in 2022, a Continuing Education package included improved tailored education to uplift responses to family violence, child safety and victim survivors. AV responds to thousands of cases of family violence and child safety every year. Paramedics are often the first professionals to speak with a victim survivor about their experience.

The FVCE online and face-to-face modules focus on:

• Providing patient-centred care for those at risk and experiencing family violence.

• Strengthening staff and volunteer knowledge and capabilities in identifying and responding to different types and presentations of family violence.

• Using a standardised assessment tool and evidence-based risk factors to assess risk and appropriate care pathways.

• Greater understanding of liaising with other services such as Victoria Police and hospitals to provide the best care pathway.

• Understanding safety risks and trauma-informed approaches, so paramedics feel confident in the care they provide, and minimise the potential for a traumatic experience and moral injury.

The training package is part of the AV Continuing Education program undertaken by all AV current paramedics and first responders. This innovative training package blends online learning content reinforced by scenario-based face-to-face learning.

The online learning modules offer comprehensive family violence content tailored for the operational pre-hospital care environment. The face-to-face content is scenario-based learning, with case studies/scenarios drawing on common presentations to AV of family violence. The scenario-based learning approach unpacks complex family violence presentations requiring learners to use family violence screening questions and assess risk and treatment approaches.