Midland Information Debt and Legal Advocacy Services (MIDLAS) has partnered with St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals to create the Midland Health Justice Partnership.

This initiative allows individuals to receive free legal support for domestic violence cases from a MIDLAS lawyer several days a week at the hospital.

The Midland Health Justice Partnership aims to tackle the rising rates of family domestic violence and provide an early intervention response for such crises occurring in Western Australia.

Gaelle Gouillou, the CEO of MIDLAS, underscored the significance of providing support to individuals affected by family and domestic violence, highlighting the escalating prevalence of this issue in Western Australia.

She cited the Western Australia Police findings, which showed a 35 per cent increase in family-related offences in 2022, followed by an additional 15 per cent rise in the first nine months of 2023.

Gouillou also emphasised the significance of MIDLAS partnering with a hospital to initiate a health justice project, noting that individuals affected by family and domestic violence are more inclined to disclose abuse to healthcare professionals.

Anne-Marie Ricciardi, a lawyer at MIDLAS, outlined the focus of this partnership on raising awareness among victims and survivors about available support options.

“We can assist people to put legal protections in place to help keep them safe. We provide advice and assistance in relation to restraining orders, family law, criminal injuries compensation and tenancy matters,” Ricciardi said.

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It is crucial to increase the number of survivors and victims of FDV and to inform them about the support services that are available to them. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey (2016), two out of five Australians lacked awareness of where to get help for a domestic violence issue. The report also underscored that only 20 per cent of victims currently reach out to the police for assistance.

This project has garnered support from Impact100 WA, which named the Midland Health Justice Partnership one of the three winners of their $100,000 grant in 2023.

Gouillou expressed appreciation for Impact100 WA’s support, emphasising how the grant has enabled the Midland Health Justice Partnership to drive meaningful change.

“Their commitment is playing a crucial role in enabling us, along with our partnership with St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals, to make a tangible difference in the lives of those we support.

“Thanks to this grant, MIDLAS will be able to expand its services and bring out positive change through early intervention and empowerment for hundreds of FDV victim-survivors,” Gouillou said.

Gouillou also reiterated the organisation’s commitment to addressing not only the FDV crisis but also elder abuse, emphasising the importance of protecting the rights of older individuals.

Paul Dyer, the hospital’s chief executive, praised the partnership as a vital resource for addressing societal gaps. He highlighted its potential to deliver meaningful outcomes for the community by building on the success of health justice partnerships across Australia.

“Health justice partnerships have a long history of delivering outcomes for the community across Australia. Our hospital is proud to be partnering with MIDLAS, and we very much look forward to the positive impacts the service will have on those experiencing FDV,” Dyer said.