Background: Domestic and family violence (DFV) is a pervasive issue in Australia, often presenting in primary healthcare settings where doctors, nurses, and administrative staff play crucial roles in patient care. Administrative staff, such as receptionists and practice managers, frequently act as the first point of contact for DFV-affected patients. However, they are less likely to receive training or participate in policy. This knowledge gap can have a significant impact on patient care, practice processes and workforce wellbeing.
Methods: This study utilised a mixed-methods approach, including a scoping review, semi-structured interviews (n=13), surveys (n=15), and training interventions (n=2), to evaluate the preparedness of primary healthcare professionals to manage DFV.
Results: Preliminary thematic analysis of identified barriers at a patient-, health professional-, and organisational / system level, such as individual financial and cultural constraints, practitioner and administrator low confidence, staff emotional burden, system limited referral pathways, and inconsistent organisational documentation protocols. Transitivity analysis of interviews revealed a dominance of mental processes (43.1%), suggesting practitioners and administrators often reflected on what they think, feel, or perceive about DFV rather than taking direct action. Statements frequently expressed uncertainty, reliance on hypothetical scenarios, or diffused responsibility, while practice managers demonstrated stronger agentive responses.
Discussion: The preliminary findings highlight significant gaps in DFV preparedness, particularly among primary healthcare administrative staff, who often lack formal education and training in trauma-informed responses. Participants cited the need for clear referral pathways, concise resource information, and integrated trauma-informed training frameworks that include both clinical and non-clinical staff. Workplace silos and biases are an identified risk to cohesive multidisciplinary responses to DFV.
Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggest the need for a coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to DFV training that builds workforce confidence, fosters collaboration between clinical and administrative staff, and transitions healthcare professionals from reflective to agentive, actionable responses. Recommendations include the development of tailored trauma-informed training frameworks, improved referral pathways to services, and system-wide policy reforms to support workforce agency and sustainable multidisciplinary DFV responses within primary healthcare environments.