Lifeline Australia’s DV-alert program reaches a new milestone as the 50,000th participant has completed domestic and family violence training.
Published on 29th June 2022
Since 2007, Lifeline has delivered DV-alert as a free, nationally recognised training program that enables frontline workers to support people experiencing domestic and family violence.
This training provides participants with the tools to recognise, respond to, and refer women and children who experience, or are at risk of, domestic and family violence to relevant support services.
Whilst attending a 2-day Indigenous workshop in Gilgandra, NSW, frontline worker, Buddie Knight, became the 50,000th participant to complete DV-alert training.
A proud Wiradjuri woman from Gilgandra and working as an Aboriginal Health Worker with NSW Health, Buddie’s decision to enrol in the DV-alert workshop was based around a desire to confidently support people experiencing domestic and family violence and to gain insight and information around safety planning.
“I feel that a lot of people [and clients] I work with in domestic and family violence relationships tend to stay [for a number of reasons including their safety] and I became really stuck as to how I could support them and where I could refer them to.”
“This workshop has given me the tools and resources to be able to create a safety plan with my client and then understand where we can go from that point to keep that family safe.”
Asked if she would recommend this course to other frontline workers, she continued, “I would definitely recommend this workshop. Not only was it very informative, but the facilitators were great and continued to keep me engaged throughout the workshop”.
DV-alert Senior Program Manager, Jody Hofmeyr says “We congratulate Buddie on her decision to attend DV-alert training and for being our 50,000th participant! Lifeline is proud to be empowering frontline workers such as Buddie to support clients who may be in crisis due to domestic and family violence. The impact of the training for frontline workers is lasting with participants advising significant increases in confidence, knowledge and skills to open conversations and to build a more informed network for relevant and appropriate referrals for their clients.”
Lifeline is looking forward to continuing to deliver this important training to frontline workers to support people in crisis due to domestic and family violence under the new National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services, DV-alert provides a safe space for frontline workers to learn, connect and be empowered to recognise and respond confidently to those experiencing domestic and family violence.
To find out more, visit DV-alert.