Women’s Emotional Well-Being (WEB Project)
The Safer Families Centre is leading the Women’s Emotional Well-Being (WEB) Project. The project aims to improve the capability of primary care to respond to victim-survivors and coordinate referrals for women and their children.
Funded 2024-2028 through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Primary Health Care Grant, this trial will be the first in the world to evaluate whether a primary care early intervention can improve the health, safety and wellbeing of families.
WHAT
We will evaluate the health impact, implementation and economic effectiveness of a novel primary care system response to address domestic and family violence.
HOW
A cluster randomised controlled trial of primary care response will be compared to standard general practice care in women regularly attending the practice who are afraid of their partner.
The study will recruit and follow 1,500 women who attend 15 general practices and report experiencing fear due to a partner or family member's behaviour.
Participants will be offered a primary care system response. Quantitative and qualitative data will be collected to assess the acceptability, adaptability, feasibility and impact of this response on women's sense of support and help-seeking. This will be achieved through comprehensive interviews and surveys conducted before and six months after the intervention as well as an analysis of the costs and cost-effectiveness of the intervention from both a healthcare and societal perspective.
WHY
Improve capability of primary care to respond to victim-survivors and coordinate referrals for women and their children.
Create lasting positive change and support for women victim-survivors.
PRIMARY CARE SYSTEM RESPONSE TO BE TRIALED
Fully-funded general practice appointment using a simulated Medicare item for a Family Safety Assessment Plan.
A confidential discussion to understand and assess risk to health and safety and prepare a plan for safety.
Risk assessment and management by their GP using an embedded clinical decision support tool.
The clinical decision support tool generates an on-screen message prompting the GP to use the Victorian Government DFV identification and screening tool, and a brief risk assessment tool.
Referral for six consultations with a peer care navigator over a six-month period.
Peer care navigators offer personalised, empathetic support and practical guidance to help women understand and access available health and social services.
The University of Melbourne, Safer Families Centre will lead this four year study in collaboration with La Trobe University, University of New South Wales and Deakin University.