An elected Labor Government will increase investment in the NSW Sexual Violence Helpline to ensure it can continue to provide critical, 24/7 state-wide specialist counselling service for people impacted by sexual violence.
"It is important that victims in NSW feel they are heard and supported and that simply cannot happen if there is no one on the end of the phone to listen," Jodie Harrison MP, Shadow Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, said.
"This is an important first step in NSW Labor’s commitment to supporting both victims and providers in this state."
A Minns Labor Government will provide an additional $923,000 a year to the helpline. Demand for the service is rising, with sexual assault crime rates showing a 4.2 per cent upward trend in the five years to March 2022.
In 2021 there was a 27 per cent increase in the number of calls, with the helpline receiving 14,089 calls and online contacts.
Unacceptably, due to a lack of funding for counsellors, almost one in three calls (29 per cent) go unanswered.
The NSW Sexual Violence Helpline provides round the clock telephone and online crisis counselling for anyone who has experienced or is at risk of sexual assault, family or domestic violence.
NSW Labor have committed to providing an increased $923,701 in additional core funding per annum to cover the wages of an additional 25 counsellors.
This funding boost will be in addition to a one off funding injection of $467,679 to improve access to sexual violence services in priority populations, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disability, migrant and refugee women, and people from the LGBTIQA+ community.
Full Stop Australia CEO Hayley Foster thanked NSW Labor for their commitment to ensure every survivor of sexual violence in NSW can get the support they need when they need it.
"In particular we thank the Shadow Minister for Women and Prevention of Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison, who has been committed in her advocacy for sexual assault survivors across NSW to have access to the support they need, when they need it," she said.
"This commitment will mean that every survivor of sexual violence in NSW, no matter their location, age, gender or ethnicity, can get the same access to free, confidential, 24-7 trauma specialist support."
IMAGE: Jodie Harrison MP (left) and Full Stop Australia CEO Hayley Foster (right).
