TRANSCRIPT
For over a decade, the national domestic violence hotline has offered specialist counselling and referrals to people experiencing - or at risk of experiencing - family or sexual violence.
Now, those who can't access 1800RESPECT via telephone or web chat have another discreet and flexible way to get in touch - via text message.
Head of 1800RESPECT Colleen Birchley says the expanded service aims to reach more people in rural and remote communites, and those with limited access to landlines and internet.
But she is clear the same professional guidance will be provided, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
"I'm very proud to say that you can now contact 1800RESPECT by phone call, web chat and of course now text. Whatever your situation, and regardless of your age, gender identity, sexuality, culture, or your unique circumstances it's really important to know that help and support is available. 1800RESPECT's experienced counsellors are guided by you, your needs, your feeling on the situation, and what's right for you in the situation."
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth says under the government's 10-year plan (the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032) announced in October, it is committed to ending violence against women and children in a generation.
"It is important that people are able to get support when they need it, and that is why the ease of access and choice of service for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence is so important. This violence has a ripple effect. And this is why it's not only of interest to address violence against women and children for individuals' sake, those experiencing that violence, the families are also affected. But it does ripple through communities and it ripples through workplaces, it ripples through community organisations, and it's everyone's business to end family and domestic violence."
This year, there have been 58 deaths of women due to domestic violence, according to the Counting Dead Women Australia project.
The Australian Human Rights Commission says research shows First Nations women are 32 times more likely to be hospitalised and 11 times more likely to die from assault than non-Indigenous women in Australia.
Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan says the expanded 1800RESPECT service may help Indigenous women who experience violence in remote communities.
"The 1800RESPECT is to me is a good thing, this is a new app that's being launched today by our minister, with Telstra - Telstra's one of the best companies around to go through to have this app."
But she still has concerns about how accessible this professional support will be for certain groups.
"I worry about our elders, about our old people, particularly that a lot of them have been in relationships since they're 15. Hopefully this helps, this new way of contacting people for help. But I'm not sure whether it will address - particularly our older generations, because a lot of them don't text."
The Minister says feedback from those who've used the SMS service during its two week trial shows it is already making a difference.
"Some of these victim-survivors have been able to reach out for assistance for the first time through this new channel. Some have received very crucial help to manage their safety and even access emergency accommodation. In one case, a user had lost their voice due to strangulation the night before and was unable to speak the next day. Through the SMS capability they were able to seek and secure emergency accommodation via 1800RESPECT where they would otherwise not have been able to access telephone support."
She says, in another instance, a user was able to text the hotline to first understand whether what they were experiencing was coercive control and abuse.
It allowed them to set up a phone call when their partner wasn't present and get verbal advice.
The number victims can text to seek help is 0458 737 732.
That spells out 0-4-5-8 Respect on a keypad.
Translators are available for phone calls made to 1800RESPECT, but the SMS service will only be available in English.
A new video service is set to be launched in the new year.
Demand for the 1800RESPECT has been growing. Via telephone and web chat, the service provided almost 270,000 responses to people experiencing family, domestic or sexual violence in the last year (2022-23 financial year).
With the addition of text messaging, the service hopes to reach many more.
If you or someone you know wants to talk about family or domestic violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14. If you are in an emergency, always call 000.
