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QLD gets extra $2.7 million in sexual assault services

community

By Juliano Oliveira

Queensland Government is applying an extra $2.7 million in sexual assault services during COVID-19.

Community centres will utilise the funding to allocate additional staff to support abuse survivors.

“October is Sexual Violence Awareness Month but for the survivors of sexual violence, the scars of abuse can last a lifetime,” Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said.

“We know unemployment and the financial uncertainty of COVID-19 have created a perfect storm for abuse with specialist community-based services reporting a spike in women seeking help as a result of sexual violence.”

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), 1 in 3 Australian women have experienced physical violence since the age of 15. Women are more than twice as likely as men to have experienced fear or anxiety due to brutality from a former partner.

“This extra funding enables sexual violence services to employ more specialist staff to reduce pressure on existing workers, deliver counselling and support, and connect survivors of assault with the right legal and health services,” Di Farmer said.

The State Government will lit up landmarks around Brisbane in support of Sexual Violence Awareness Month including Parliament House, Victoria Bridge and Story Bridge and the Reddacliff Place sculptures.

Get help and advice

DVConnect Womensline
1800 811 811
24 hours, 7 days a week
DVConnect Mensline
1800 600 636
9am to 12 midnight, 7 days a week
Sexual Assault Helpline
1800 010 120
7.30am to 11.30pm, 7 days a week
Kids Help Line
1800 55 180024 hours, 7 days a week
Lifeline
13 11 1424 hour Crisis Counselling Line
Elder Abuse Helpline
1300 651 192
9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday

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