Violence Intervention Programme
If you are in immediate danger, call 111 and ask for the police.
The Violence Intervention Programme (VIP) aims to help when families come into hospital and have been experiencing or exposed to family violence. Te Whatu Ora Taranaki works to protect women and children against abuse, neglect, and intimate partner violence.
New Zealand is one of the first countries in the world where health professionals are trained in family violence intervention; how to ask routine questions to identify victims, and how to explore about risks.
Contact
Family Violence Intervention Coordinator (VIPC):
familyviolencecoordinator@tdhb.org.nz
Phone 06 753 6139, extension 8973
Child Protection Coordinator (CPC):
childprotectioncoordinator@tdhb.org.nz
Phone 06 753 6139, extension 7891
White Ribbon Day
25 November is White Ribbon Day. This year we will be shining the spotlight on the direct impact adult’s actions can have on the health of our future generations by challenging people to consider how what children see and hear impacts them socially, emotionally, cognitively and physically as they grow up.
It's not OK for children and young people to experience violence whether they are victims or witnesses. Research shows that violence in the home affects children whether they see it, hear it or just know about it.
For health professionals
Family Violence Act:
New and amended legislation came into force on 1 July 2019 that’s all about enabling people and agencies working with tamariki and whānau to share information appropriately so that tamariki and whānau can be safe from harm.
Guidance on how to safely share information has been provided under both the Family Violence Act 2018 and the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989. Links to these guidance documents are available at:
Training for health professionals:
The new NZ Family Violence Law (2018) deems Te Whatu Ora to be Family Violence Agencies. All registered health practitioners should be proactive in identifying, assessing and referring victims of family violence as a part of their duty of care.
Currently, the Violence Intervention Programme is implemented in every Te Whatu Ora hospital in New Zealand and also in some Primary Health Organisations.
The Core Family Violence Intervention Programme training session is based on the Family Violence Assessment and Intervention Guideline, (FVAIG, 2016). It can be downloaded from the Ministry of Health website.
Training for Te Whatu Ora Taranaki staff and external health professionals (e.g. LMCs, independent midwives, GPs and practice nurses) is available by contacting debbie.shotter@tdhb.org.nz
Documents:
Family Violence Intervention within an Emergency Department: Achieving change requires multifaceted processes to maximize safety. Amanda Ritchie (PDF 248 KB)
Last updated:
Thursday, December 5, 2019
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