Domestic violence hotline overwhelmed, wins additional funding
Queensland domestic violence hotline DVConnect has been given a $2 million boost over the next two years to assist women and families.
Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)
Growing demand has put the domestic violence hotline and its funding under increasing pressure, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said.
“Following a number of tragic murders of women and children across Queensland, we know that demand for specialist services remains high,” the minister said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has compounded the complexities experienced by families impacted by domestic and family violence.”
This funding tops off $6.5 million allocated to the service in the state budget.
DVConnect responded to almost 307,000 calls for help in the past three years.
“DVConnect receives one call for help every five minutes, and our counsellors are working hard to meet this demand while navigating all the complexities we’ve seen throughout the pandemic,” DVConnect CEO Beck O’Connor said.
