Hotline boost to help men prevent family violence

Yahoo

08-02-2025

A crucial funding injection will help address a surge in men seeking help to stop using violence against women and children.
Almost $2 million in additional funding for the Men's Referral Service and the Brief Intervention Service was welcomed by its operator, which says ramping up early intervention targeting men is a critical step in ending family violence within a generation.
"This will help us to respond to significantly increased demand in the past two years," No to Violence chief executive Phillip Ripper told AAP on Saturday.
"It's up 40 per cent in the past 12 months, so we're pleased the Commonwealth government has provided this to enable us to have more counsellors available right across the day and night."
Service providers working with violent men have previously spoken out about overwhelming demand, and lengthy waitlists.
The referral service provides a 24/7 counselling, information and referral service for men who use violence, their friends, family and colleagues, and professionals working with these men.
The intervention service meanwhile provides multi-session telephone-based counselling and referral options to assist men who have used violence to change their behaviour.
Mr Ripper urged any men concerned about their behaviour to call to speak with a fully trained counsellor about the support they can access and starting their journey away from violence.
The $1.89 million funding injection covers the current and upcoming financial year.
Another $800,000 will boost the capacity of the MensLine Australia, run by Lifeline.
"We know with increased awareness and media reporting on family, domestic and sexual violence, more people are reaching out to these helplines," Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said.
"This is a good thing.
"Particularly with our campaigns like Stop it at the Start and Consent Can't Wait fostering understanding of what family, domestic and sexual violence is and how it starts, early intervention services are assisting more men across the country."
Ms Rishworth said Labor had $4 billion across 113 initiatives and actions supporting the goals of the national plan to end domestic violence.
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