Doctors could prevent family violence

Family GPs and emergency doctors could play a key role in preventing family violence under proposals for them to report injuries arising from domestic abuse.

Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence will focus on Wednesday on how the health system responds to abuse in the family home.

The inquiry has heard from adult victims who say they told hospital doctors they had been beaten or raped by their partners, but the doctors did not report the abuse to police.

St Vincent's Health has recommended a trial of routine screening for family violence by hospital emergency departments.

Medical staff should also be trained to respond to cases of family violence.

Earlier in the week, anti-violence campaigner Rosie Batty gave evidence about her work following the murder last year of her 11-year-old son Luke.

She said community attitudes had changed since the high-profile death of her son at the hands of his father, but there is still a long way to go.