Media Release by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston

Boost to Domestic and Family Violence Services

The Morrison Government is boosting funding to Men’s Referral Service and the Salvation Army to ensure more people can access support for domestic and family violence during the coronavirus pandemic.

Minister for Families and Social Services Anne Ruston said No To Violence would receive $2.4 million to work with men who use violence and controlling behaviour, including expanding the Men’s Referral Service.

“This funding will expand the capacity of the Men’s Referral Service to provide telephone and online services nationwide over the Coronavirus period,” Minister Ruston said.

The Salvation Army will receive $320,000 additional funding under Keeping Women Safe in their Homes for its Safer in the Home program in response to an increase in demand for this service.

Minister Ruston said this program enables women and their children who have experienced family and domestic violence to remain in their homes where safe and appropriate to do so.

“This will allow the Salvation Army to provide up to 200 more women and their children with a home safety audit, risk assessment and safety planning and home security upgrades,” Minister Ruston said.

“This may include installation of alarms, security screens and locks, as well as sweeps and de-bugging of cars and homes, and phone security breach scanning.”

Earlier this week the Morrison Government launched the new domestic violence support services campaign, Help Is Here, with television commercials airing from today.

“The campaign encourages Australians to seek support through 1800RESPECT and MensLine Australia where they can talk confidentially to trained counsellors on the phone and online,” Minister Ruston said.

“The most important thing we can do as a Government is make sure that anyone who needs help and support knows it is there and where to get it which is what makes this campaign so important.”

The three initiatives are part of the Morrison Government’s $150 million Domestic Violence Support Package to help support services meet demand during these unprecedented times.