Federal budget fails to deliver for struggling domestic violence frontline services amid increasing calls for help

Crisis calls for Queensland domestic and family violence victims are going unanswered, as the state’s peak support service issues an urgent funding plea for frontline workers.

Crisis calls for Queensland domestic and family violence victims are going unanswered, as the state’s peak support service issues an urgent funding plea for frontline workers.

The federal budget announced on Tuesday saw an additional $1.1bn added to the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, bringing total investment to $3.4bn however, calls for a domestic and family violence services funding package were ignored.

It comes as Queensland’s peak domestic and family violence hotline DVConnect recorded a staggering 45 per cent increase in calls to the service over three months, equating to one call for help every four minutes.

DVConnect director of clinical governance Dr Kelly Dingli said support staff could no longer keep pace with demand and Treasurer Jim Chalmers “budget for women” had missed the mark in helping support services attend to the growing number of women reaching out for help.

“The increase in calls is horrifying, we are not getting to them,” she said.

“For the last quarter our women’s line increased by 45 per cent and our outbound calls increased by 31 per cent.

“This funding from the budget won’t support this demand … it isn’t helping us address the women whose support calls we are answering today.

“We need the frontline service support for women at risk now.”

Domestic Violence Crisis Line call centre worker. Photo – Naomi Jellicoe

The state government last month committed $36m towards frontline domestic violence services over the next 12 months, which Dr Dingli hopes will be expanded in the upcoming Queensland Budget announcement.

The national plan to end violence against women and children spans from 2022 to 2032, with major budget initiatives including $925m towards permanently establishing the Leaving Violence Program (LVP) which offers financial support for victim-survivors seeking to leave violent relationships and $1bn for housing initiatives for safe accommodation for women and children fleeing domestic violence.

Other budget initiatives announced on Tuesday included $56m towards women’s health services, $19m towards parental leave incentives, $19m for child and aged care workers and $4.3m towards National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety research on violent perpetrators.

While funding was welcomed by domestic and family violence services around the country, key advocates have called for more focus on education.

Lloyd and Sue Clarke attend the Candle Lighting Vigil for National Domestic Violence Month held in May to Remember those who have died as a result of domestic and family violence. Picture David Clark

Parents of Hannah Clarke and founders of the Small Steps 4 Hannah foundation, Lloyd and Sue Clarke said they hoped to see future investment in reform programs to break the cycle of violence and abuse.

“It is imperative that we not only implement programs that save women in Australia from abusive relationships but that we actively curb attitudes that give root to such hatred in the first place,” they said.

White Ribbon chief executive Melissa Perry echoed calls for further government support for education, including the expansion of the breathing space program.

“We believe this model, which takes men who use violence out of the family home, would play a significant role on a national basis,” she said.

“We look forward to further announcements from the Federal Government around increased investment in primary prevention work in schools, workplaces and communities, to end men’s violence before it begins.”

Originally published as Federal budget fails to deliver for struggling domestic violence frontline services amid increasing calls for help