WA Model for Violence Prevention Pilot
As part of the 2022/23 budget process, the State Government committed $252 million to address emergency department (ED) pressures and ambulance ramping. The package included a $3.47 million investment to pilot a violence prevention model for four years (2022/23 to 2025/26) to reduce alcohol related violence and injuries that impact EDs and frontline services.
The Mental Health Commission (Commission) has partnered with the East Metropolitan Health Service to pilot the WA Model for Violence Prevention at Royal Perth Hospital (RPH) ED.
Anyone presenting at RPH ED will be asked by nursing staff whether alcohol was involved in their reason for attending. This information will be collated and used to improve our understanding about alcohol use, harm and injury to:
- develop and implement targeted injury and violence prevention strategies with partner agencies (e.g. police and health services); and
- inform community leaders about the need for changes in the places people work and live and encourage relevant stakeholders, including business owners and residents, to prevent violence by using evidence-based solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Will anyone be able to see my personal details?
No - all personal information collected will be password protected and stored within WA Health servers. No personal details will be released outside of RPH. All reported information will be aggregated and deidentified prior to releasing to the WA Model of Violence Prevention Working Group who are responsible for implementation of the pilot.
What type of prevention strategies could be used?
Examples of prevention strategies successfully used in other jurisdictions that could be used in WA (depending on what the data reports) include:
- increased street/park lighting;
- installation of CCTV cameras;
- installation or improvement of pedestrian pathways;
- cut down or removal of shrubs to increase visibility;
- installation of rubbish bins to remove potential weapons such as glass;
- ensuring building worksites are kept clean and secure to prevent access to potential weapons such as bricks; and
- targeted policing or community outreach services.
How will we know if the prevention strategies are working?
The pilot will be independently evaluated to determine if prevention strategies are working. Six-monthly process, summary and evaluation reports will be released outlining implementation and process evaluation, data and trend analysis, health economics review, cost/benefit analysis and impact evaluation.
Will the reports be available to the public?
Yes, reports will be periodically published on this website.
Has this model been implemented elsewhere?
Yes, this model is based on the Cardiff Model which originated in the UK. Versions of the Cardiff Model have been implemented elsewhere including United States of America, South Africa, Melbourne, Geelong, Canberra, Alice Springs and Sydney.
How honest are people when reporting about their alcohol use?
Any report of a person’s individual alcohol use can be affected for reasons such as willingness to answer accurately, what they remember and what they perceive as being a socially acceptable response[1]. However, studies have found that an individual’s reported alcohol use in an ED is relatively accurate (92%) when validated with a breathalyser[2].
Do you measure Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)?
Not for the purpose of the WA Model of Violence Prevention Pilot. However, in some instances BAC will be measured by an emergency physician for medical purposes and the results of these tests may be available at an aggregated and deidentified level if required.
Resources/publications:
Contact us:
For more information, contact WAMVP@health.wa.gov.au
[1] Miller, P,. etal. (2022). Most common principle diagnosis assigned to Australian emergency department presentations involving alcohol use: a multi-centre study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 46(6), 903-909, doi:10.1111/1753-6405.13303.
[2] Cherpitel CJ. Alcohol-related injury and the emergency department: Research and policy questions for the next decade. Addiction. 2006; 101: 1225–7.