A Tasmanian family violence counselling service has stressed that more needs to be done to ensure that people without full access to communications technologies don't get left behind following the federal government's announcement of a funding boost for national victim helplines.
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On Sunday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new $1.1 billion package for mental health and family violence services, Medicare assistance and food relief amidst the escalating COVID-19 crisis.
Engender Equality chief executive Alina Thomas welcomed the announcement but noted that not all people suffering domestic and sexual abuse had access to mobile phone plans or Wi-Fi.
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"Increasing the ability of services to receive calls is one part of the equation but alongside that you need people aware that they need to access services and then you need the means for them to be able to do that," she said. "In this scenario, it's the means that is possibly missing."
"I really do think that we need to have some kind of brokerage fund there as well so that we can make sure that all of this great work that's happening remains accessible to everybody."
Of the $1.1 billion package, $150 million will go towards boosting services to support victims of family violence.
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Counselling helplines such as 1800RESPECT and Mensline Australia - which provide support for family violence and sexual abuse victims and men affected by or considering using violence, respectively - will receive funding.
Among other initiatives set to benefit from the federal package are programs to assist women and children experiencing violence to seek protection and a new public communication campaign to inform people of where they can get help.
Increasing the ability of services to receive calls is one part of the equation but alongside that you need people aware that they need to access services and then you need the means for them to be able to do that.
- Alina Thomas, Engender Equality chief executive
"Google has shown a 75 per cent increase in searches when it comes to issues around domestic violence in recent days," Mr Morrison said.
"We need to put more resources into supporting people who will be vulnerable and may be vulnerable, and we are putting that support in."
The Tasmanian government last week announced a $5 million funding package of its own for child safety and family violence services in the state.
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