Domestic violence victims will be able to access specialist counselling and support by text message under an initiative designed to make seeking help more accessible.
The domestic violence helpline 1800RESPECT has expanded its services to texts to allow people in unsafe situations, who can’t access a telephone or web chat, to get help.
The hotline provided more than 268,629 responses in the 2022/23 financial year.
Expansion to text services is expected to particularly help people living in rural and remote communities and those with limited access to technology or the internet.
Like the phone and online service, text support will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The number victims can text to seek help is 0458 737 732.
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The program was soft-launched two weeks ago and has already helped multiple victim-survivors.
In one case, a user had lost her voice due to strangulation the night before and was unable to speak the next day.
She was able to seek and secure emergency accommodation through the SMS service.
Another user was able to send a text about the behaviour of their partner to understand if it was coercive control and verbal abuse.
Once their partner was…
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