New funding to provide essential domestic violence counselling service for South West region

DVassist has received new funding to offer specialist family and domestic violence counselling to remote areas. This funding from the Department of Communities will enable people in the South West to access the non-profit group’s telephone and online counselling services for the next two years. A total of 58 regional, rural and remote shires will benefit from DVassists services, which include recovery-focused counselling services to people who have experienced family and domestic violence. DVassist chief executive Ella Ailenei said the funding means the organisation can broaden its services to include recovery and healing seminars to rural areas instead of prioritising crisis response. “Most specialist family and domestic violence services provide response assistance, which includes dealing with the immediate crisis,” she said. “When services do not have the capacity to offer counselling for recovery and healing, the people they help can be left without support during their long-term recovery.“ Ms Ailenei said the support service was important during a time when domestic violence was on the rise and more in the public conscience. “It is important for those who have experienced family and domestic violence to receive appropriate support to help them recover from the physical, mental, emotional and economic impacts of family and domestic violence,” she said. “DVassist offers specialist multi-session counselling to help people rebuild their life, return to the workplace and community, become financially independent and secure, and participate socially in life again.” Dvassist’s web-chat and confidential telephone counselling services are available from Monday to Thursday between 8am and 8pm. Their services can be reached at dvassist.org.au or by calling 1800 080 083. 1800 RESPECT