342,000 Australians Sought Help From Domestic Violence Last Year

With helpline demand soaring, the government commits an extra $42 million for 1800 RESPECT.

A women crosses a street in Sydney, Australia, on May 6, 2021. Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Australia’s national sexual, domestic, and family violence hotline is experiencing unprecedented demand, prompting the Albanese government to provide an additional $41.8 million in funding.

On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the government announced an almost 40 percent increase in the funding for 1800RESPECT, bringing total funding to $146.8 million through to June 2027, said a statement from the Department of Social Services released on Nov. 25.