1800RESPECT has welcomed the findings of a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Medibank has delivered the 1800RESPECT service since it began in 2010 with funding from the federal government.
It is a national service delivered with not-for-profit specialist counselling partners, safe steps, Women’s Safety Services SA and DV Connect, in support of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children.
The new report, Family, domestic and sexual violence: continuing the national story, 2019, has revealed an increase in the number of people accessing services due to family, domestic and sexual violence.
This is representative of 1800RESPECT's contact volume, which has seen the number of people accessing the service increase by 62 per cent over the past year.
According to 1800RESPECT managing director, Nicole McMahon, “We know that the most common type of violence reported to us is emotional violence, followed by verbal abuse, physical violence, sexual violence and financial abuse.
“The majority of people who contact 1800RESPECT are women, but we’re also listening, supporting and providing advice to children and men who are impacted by family, domestic and sexual violence.”
1800RESPECT is focused on at-risk groups and works closely with a National Sector Advisory Group to bring together family, domestic and sexual violence experts with knowledge and experience in:
- family law matters;
- issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities;
- culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
- same sex relationships;
- rural and remote areas; and
- people with disability.
“We’re working hard to ensure that all Australians who are impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence have access to 1800RESPECT,” added Ms McMahon.