The contract for the 1800RESPECT violence counselling service is to go to tender to find a new provider for the decade-old phone helpline.
Minister for Families and Social Services, Senator Anne Ruston said an open competitive procurement process would be run to secure a provider to meet increasing demand for the service.
“1800RESPECT provides a critical service to support to anyone who has experienced or is at risk of family violence and sexual assault as well as their family, friends and support workers,” Senator Ruston said.
“Tragically in Australia every two minutes police are called to a domestic and family violence matter and every day 12 women are hospitalised,” she said.
“We are absolutely committed to ensuring 1800RESPECT is able to continue providing the highest quality support for all Australians affected by domestic, family and sexual violence.”
Senator Ruston said demand for the helpline had grown rapidly since it was launched in 2010, when it was estimated the service would receive 20,000 calls each year.
She said that during the 2018-19 financial year, the helpline had responded to more than 163,000 phone and online contacts – a 66 per cent increase from the previous year.
“1800RESPECT is a valued and quality counselling service but the Government recognises there is a need to better support callers with complex presentations,” Senator Ruston said.
She said the Department of Social Services would work closely with the current provider to ensure the helpline continued to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the procurement process and any resulting transition period.
