Domestic violence help calls fall but internet searches rise
Calls for help to domestic violence hotlines have dropped dramatically but internet search trends suggest coronavirus is not saving victims from abuse.
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The “disturbing silence” of only half the regular calls for help to the state’s domestic-violence crisis network is worrying service providers.
They fear women and men living with abusive partners are unable to safely phone for help or leave the home because of coronavirus restrictions.
The fall in calls has coincided with a spike in online searches for help and a 39 per cent increase in urgent disputes being brought to the Family Court of Australia.
The court has created a dedicated COVID-19 list and pledged to hear cases within 72 hours.
Disputes, “especially those involving issues of risk and family violence, will receive immediate attention and will be triaged by a dedicated registrar”, Family Court Chief Justice Will Alstergren said.
The disturbing trends come as, on Wednesday, South Australians prepare to mourn people killed by domestic and family violence, including the state’s first known victim of 2020. The 33-year-old mother of three, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, was killed in April.
The Sunday Mail has been told calls to the state’s Domestic Violence Crisis Line have fallen from 200 to 100 a day since March.
Women’s Safety Services SA Ninko Kurtangga Patpangga program manager Rachel Abdulla said fewer calls were being received but they were becoming more complex and included severe mental-health and homelessness issues.
“On the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing a disturbing and significant decrease in women reaching out as they have less opportunity to do so,” said Tina Quitadamo, chief executive of Nunga Mi: Minar – a domestic and family violence service for Aboriginal women and children.
“This is very unsettling because we know that family violence just doesn’t stop.”
New figures from online marketer SEMrush show a 67 per cent increase in South Australians searching “women and domestic violence” online in March, compared with February.
Nationally, online traffic to domestic violence helpline 1800respect.org.au increased by 76 per cent over the same period.
As part of its COVID-19 response, the Federal Government allocated an extra $150 million to programs aimed at reducing domestic violence.
Speaking beside Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week, national suicide prevention adviser Christine Morgan said people living together in confined spaces were finding it challenging.
“For those of us staying at home, and that is the majority, the vast, vast majority of Australians, it is a pressure cooker,” she said.
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Indigenous women report violence at more than three times the rate of non-indigenous women.
Aboriginal Family Violence will be the focus of this year’s 10th SA domestic and family violence vigil.
The vigil is held annually on the first Wednesday of May to mark the start of Domestic Violence Prevention Month.
Embolden – a coalition of 29 SA domestic, family and sexual violence services – will live-stream this year’s vigil on Facebook from 5.30pm.
The vigil would normally take place at the Elder Park rotunda.
South Australians are invited to join by lighting a candle and holding a moment’s silence. Vigil details: bit.ly/VigilSA2020
For help, call the Domestic Violence Crisis Line on 1800 800 098, or 1800RESPECT.