The LNP has today announced a major boost to frontline domestic and family violence services, with a new Townsville-based hub for DVConnect, as part of the Safer Families, Safer Communities policy.
The expansion of DVConnect with a new North Queensland Hub would not only double the capacity of the Womensline and Mensline helplines run by DVConnect but would also provide better regionalised support across Queensland.
DVConnect, a major Queensland service, fields 450 calls a day on average, connecting many of these callers with services on the ground across the state. Demand for help has increased by one-third in the past year.
LNP Leader David Crisafulli said the LNP’s Safer Families, Safer Communities boost to DVConnect services was part of its Making Our Community Safer Plan.
“The LNP’s commitment will restore safety where you live with more support for victims of domestic and family violence across Queensland,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“No Queenslander should be left without help to escape family violence, our plan equips DVConnect to help victims with the crisis support they need, when they need it.
“These crisis counselling services can mean the difference between a victim escaping violence or not, and our commitment will boost capacity to meet the growing demand for help.
“Domestic and family violence survives in the darkness; our commitment will help put the spotlight on these crimes and ensure victims get the support they need to escape the violence.”
Shadow Minister for Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Amanda Camm said the LNP’s plan would put more DV support on the ground in regional Queensland.
“DVConnect’s strength is the powerful network of specialised service providers who deliver on the ground place-based support for Queenslanders experiencing domestic, family or sexual violence, which is exactly what the LNP will boost with this commitment,” Ms Camm said.
“Under the LNP’s plan, for the first time DVConnect will have permanent crisis counsellors from North Queensland, providing greater crisis response and referral pathways.
“The needs of victims and the services available differ at each end of our state, we want to ensure women in North Queensland have regionally based support, just as those in South-East Queensland, to flee domestic and family violence.
“Only the LNP has the Right Plan for Queensland’s Future with the Making our Community Safer plan which includes a major boost to Queensland DV services.”
DVConnect Interim CEO Michelle Royes welcomed the LNP’s commitment, saying it would allow the service to help more Queenslanders experiencing domestic and family violence.
“DVConnect has always provided 24/7 support to every Queenslander experiencing domestic and family violence and this commitment enables us to ensure we can answer more phone calls,” Ms Royes said.
“A North Queensland footprint will help us to build stronger, local relationships, improving how we support women, children and men find pathways to safety every day.
“We receive a call for help every four minutes and this demand is only increasing, this investment will enable us to help more Queenslanders, and to also work more closely with the many specialist domestic and family violence support services across the state, which is vital to supporting people to a life free from violence.
“This DVConnect helpline hub will ensure that our service continues to be responsive to the diverse needs of all Queenslanders, through a stronger Norther Queensland presence.”