16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence: 40% funding boost to 1800RESPECT

25 November 2025

The Hon TANYA PLIBERSEK MP
Minister for Social Services

SENATOR The Hon KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN

The Hon GED KEARNEY MP
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES
ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR THE PREVENTION OF FAMILY VIOLENCE

Media Release

Tuesday, 25 November 2025

16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence:
40% funding boost to 1800RESPECT

Today, on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Albanese Labor Government is announcing an almost 40% funding boost for 1800RESPECT as more Australians than ever before are identifying signs of violence and contacting 1800RESPECT for help.

Since its inception in 2010, 1800RESPECT has seen a 3,000% increase in contacts with the service from people seeking help.

Last financial year, 1800RESPECT received over 342,000 calls, video calls, online chats and texts, and demand is expected to increase. More Australians understand the signs of family violence and are feeling able to seek the help they need.

That’s why we’re proud to announce that the Albanese Labor Government is investing an additional $41.8 million in 1800RESPECT to make sure everyone who seeks help can get it. This brings funding to deliver 1800RESPECT to $146.8 million until 30 June 2027.

This announcement delivers on the Albanese Labor Government’s commitments under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 to support the 1800RESPECT service and ensure those experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence have the trauma-informed and more easily-accessible support they need.

In recent years 1800RESPECT has launched a new on-demand video counselling and SMS capability to help empower victim-survivors to seek support via the best medium that suits their needs.

Since the SMS channel launched in late 2023, the channel has been used over 25,000 times by people seeking support. Since the video channel launched in early 2024, 1800RESPECT has received over 900 calls from people seeking support.

The Albanese Government has invested more than any Australian government ever – more than $4 billion in family, domestic and sexual violence frontline services, preventative programs, behaviour change and programs for children across government.

The Government has also:

Made the Leaving Violence Program permanent, so women have the financial support they need to leave abusive relationships
Introduced legislation to make sure our social security system can’t be weaponised by perpetrators of abuse
Funded programs that intervene earlier with men who want to change their behaviours
Invested $1.2 billion for emergency and transitional housing to ensure women can reach safety
Invested a record $3.9 billion in legal services – with an extra $800 million for family violence legal services
Taken action to deal with high-risk perpetrators – investing over $82 million to detect, monitor and intervene with repeat offenders
Supported the recovery of children who have experienced violence, investing $81 million for services like child specific counselling
Legislated 10 days paid domestic violence leave, so workplaces support women to stay financially secure and connected
Made it illegal to fire someone because of their experience of domestic or family violence
Launched an inquiry into domestic, family and sexual violence related suicide
Established the National Higher Education Code to prevent and respond to Gender-based Violence in universities
Implemented all the recommendations of the Respect@Work report
Legislated a positive duty for employers to protect staff and customers from sexual harassment and abuse

More information on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032 is available on the Department of Social Services website.

More information on the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is available on the United Nations Women website.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Social Services, Tanya Plibersek:

“1800RESPECT revolutionised the way that women experiencing violence make the first step to get help and start the journey of recovery.

“It’s a good thing that more people are identifying signs of violence and seeking help. This announcement means that 1800RESPECT can keep providing this vital service to everyone that contacts them, including victims of violence and family and friends who want to support them.

“Labor established 1800RESPECT 15 years ago and now Labor is making sure that it continues to have the funding it needs.

“There is more work to do, but record funding for frontline services, paid domestic violence leave, making the Leaving Violence Program permanent, housing and legal support for women escaping violence and programs to stop the violence at the start are making a life changing difference.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Women, Katy Gallagher:

“Services like 1800RESPECT are often the first safe door women can walk through to get help. This funding boost means more calls, more chats, more texts and more video sessions can be answered when women and their children reach out for help.”

“We know that not everyone feels safe picking up the phone. The expansion of SMS and video counselling means women can seek support in the safest way for them.

“Making sure 1800RESPECT can keep pace with demand is critical to our efforts to end gender-based violence.”

Quotes attributable to the Assistant Minister for Social Services and Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Ged Kearney:

“1800RESPECT is one of the most widely recognised support services in Australia. People experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence should never do it alone and 1800RESPECT ensures trauma-informed care is available when they need it, where they need it.

“This injection of funding from the Albanese Labor Government underlines our commitment to supporting this life saving service, ensuring it is sustainable, fully equipped and continues to deliver quality care to women and children.

“We’re committed to building a future free from all forms of violence. Preventing violence requires long term action, but by expanding the capacity of 1800RESPECT, we’re helping keep people safe right now.”

ENDS

If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit www.1800respect.org.au for online chat and video call services.

If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit www.ntv.org.au

MensLine Australia Services are available if you are concerned about your wellbeing, relationships, and behaviour on 1300 789 978 or by visiting www.mensline.org.au

Feeling worried or no good? No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. Speak to a 13YARN Crisis Supporter, call 13 92 76. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.