Bid to ban male helpline operators from anti-domestic violence service 1800RESPECT

The nation’s official anti-domestic violence and sexual harassment hotline is battling in SA to have only women – and those who identify as women – answering telephone calls for help.

The nation’s official anti-domestic violence and sexual harassment hotline is battling in SA to have only women, and those who identify as women, answering telephone calls for help.

The 1800RESPECT line is a national workplace, domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service run by Telstra and in SA staffed by the organisation 54 Reasons, formerly known as Save the Children.

But the Telstra-operated service must seek an exemption to discriminate against men, and has applied to the SA Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

SACAT is considering public submissions for and against the plan.

Via Telstra, a spokeswoman for 54 Reasons said: “Women and children are largely impacted by domestic, family, and sexual violence”.

The nation’s official anti-domestic violence and sexual harassment hotline is battling in SA to have only women, and those who identify as women, answering telephone calls for help. Picture: File

“It is recognised that female-identifying workers are best placed to respond appropriately to the majority of callers, ensuring a safe and supportive place to disclose their experiences and prevent triggering a response, by past trauma.”

Telstra Health this year won a five-year, $200m federal government deal to run the 24-hour-a-day service, replacing the existing operator.

During the 2020-21 financial year, 1800RESPECT responded to more than 286,000 phone and online contacts.

Only Telstra would comment on the discrimination plan, when requests by The Advertiser were met with silence from SACAT, and domestic violence experts from the state’s three universities.

The Equal Opportunity Commissioner Jodeen Carney refused to even comment on why there was a policy to allow exemption applications, referring The Advertiser to the Equal Opportunity Act.

Many exemptions are automatic, allowing sporting organisations to have male and female players only, and select players in a certain age group only. Churches are allowed to prevent women being priests and schools to ban gay teachers.

Defence companies are allowed to ban workers from some countries.

The SA Law Handbook states the Act bans discrimination based on “age, sex, sexuality marital status, pregnancy, race or physical and intellectual impairment”.

1800RESPECT will be staffed by 18 operators employed by 54-reasons, with an unknown number in SA, where 20,000 calls were taken in 2021/22 by the previous operator of the service.

Similar discrimination provisions will be sought in other states by the operators of the Telstra line – DVConnect, Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre, and 54 Reasons.

Applications to SACAT to allow discrimination normally banned under the Act are rare.

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au