About Us

Who is DVConnect & what does DVConnect do?

1. DVConnect helps Queenslanders find pathways to safety, away from domestic, family and sexual violence. We help women, men and children regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, gender identification or religion. We also help pets.
2. DVConnect is a registered not-for-profit charity that has provided state-wide specialist domestic violence crisis counselling, intervention, information, referrals, safety planning and pathways to safety, (emergency transport and accommodation) for almost 20 years.
3. DVConnect operates helplines; Womensline and Mensline, as well the Queensland Sexual Assault Helpline.
4. Womensline is Queensland’s only free, 24/7 state-wide service available for anyone identifying as a female who is experiencing domestic violence. Womensline receives one call for help every 7 minutes. To access Womensline call 1800 811 811 anytime 24/7.
5. DVConnect Mensline is a free, telephone crisis counselling referral, information and support line for any Queenslander identifying as male. Mensline offers counselling, referral and support for men who are experiencing violence, as well as men who are using violence, to help them amend their behaviours. To access Mensline call 1800 600 636 between 9am – midnight, 7 days.
6. The Sexual Assault Helpline is a free telephone support and counselling service available to any Queenslander, regardless of gender identification who has been sexually assaulted or abused. It is also for those who are concerned someone they care about might have been assaulted/abused. To access the Sexual Assault Helpline call 1800 010 120 between 7.30am – 11.30pm, 7 days.
7. DVConnect is a specialist trauma counselling partner of 1800RESPECT the 24/7 National confidential online and telephone specialist counselling, information and referral service.
8. DVConnect operates Pets In Crisis in collaboration with RSPCA QLD to ensure pets of families who are escaping violence have safe alternative accommodation.
9. DVConnect provides Workplace Domestic Violence Training and policy assistance to help educate Queensland workplaces on how to respond to the signs of domestic and family violence.
10. DVConnect operates Bella’s Sanctuary, a purpose-built 5 unit, 19 bed medium-term accommodation residence on the Gold Coast. It is available for women and children once they have left a refuge/shelter, giving them time to rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence.

Helplines

Womensline: Crisis Counselling

• Womensline is Queensland’s only 24/7 free, telephone state-wide service or any Queenslander identifying as a female who may be experiencing domestic and family violence.
• Womensline is available by calling 1800 811 811 anytime 24/7.
• Womensline arranges practical assistance such as emergency transport and emergency accommodation away from a violent home, as well as crisis counselling and intervention.
• Womensline receives one call every seven minutes.
• It has has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2002.

Mensline:  Crisis Counselling

• Mensline is a free, telephone crisis counselling referral, information and support line for any Queenslander identifying as male.
• Mensline is available by calling 1800 600 636 between 9am – midnight, 7 days.
• Mensline offers counselling, referral and support for both men who are experiencing domestic violence, as well as men who are using violence in their relationships, to help them amend their behaviours.
• Mensline has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2002.

Sexual Assault Helpline:  Counselling

• The Sexual Assault Helpline is a free telephone support and counselling to any Queenslander who has been sexually assaulted or abused.
• It is also for those who are concerned someone they care about might have been assaulted/abused.
• The Sexual Assault Helpline can be accessed by calling 1800 010 120 between 7.30am – 11.30pm, 7 days.
• The Sexual Assault Helpline has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2009.

1800RESPECT:  Counselling

• DVConnect is a specialist trauma counselling partner of 1800RESPECT, the 24/7 National confidential online and telephone specialist counselling, information and referral service.
• 1800RESPECT provides support for people experiencing, or who are at risk of experiencing, sexual assault, domestic or family violence, their friends and family, as well as workers and professionals supporting someone experiencing, or at risk of experiencing violence.

Pets In Crisis:

• Often the safety of pets is seen as a barrier to not leaving an abusive relationship. In response to this, DVConnect operates Pets In Crisis Program in collaboration with RSPCA QLD.
• This program ensure pets of families who are escaping violence have safe alternative accommodation.
• The program cares for the pets of families experiencing domestic violence. It provides food, safe shelter, as well as veterinary services.
• Last financial year Pets In Crisis cared for almost 300 pets.
• Our Pets in Crisis program is administered by calling DVConnect on 1800 811 811.

Workplace DV Training & Policy

• DVConnect provides tailored workplace training on domestic, family and sexual violence.
• The purpose of this training is to ensure Queensland organisations are able to do their part to support their employees who may be experiencing domestic, family and/or sexual violence.
• DVConnect also helps organisations create Domestic and Family Violence Policies. As an accredited specialist provider of domestic and family violence services, DVConnect has a deep understanding of the complex presentations, impacts and trauma as a consequence of domestic and family violence. We have an understanding of risk, and managing this risk, in collaboration with survivors, with the intention of keeping them safe and empowered. We acknowledge the differential impacts and intersectional experience of violence in terms of prevalence, risk, severity of violence, culture. As well as identity for Indigenous women, young women, pregnant women, women who are separating, women living in regional and remote Queensland and women living with disability.

Bella’s Sanctuary

• DVConnect continues to be at the forefront in providing contemporary domestic and family violence support, adapting to the changing needs of Queenslanders impacted by domestic, family and sexual violence.
• On 27 August 2019, DVConnect officially opened Bella’s Sanctuary, our transitional housing residence for medium-term accommodation for women and children affected by domestic and family violence.  
• DVConnect strongly believes that domestic and family violence ends with a community-wide integrated response. Guided by this principal and a focus on reducing homelessness following domestic violence, or victims returning to their abusers, we partnered with Mirvac Residential and Queensland builders Halcyon, together with 90 building industry suppliers. Together, we designed and constructed Australia’s first commercially funded bridging accommodation residence on the Gold Coast with a total in-kind contribution of almost $1.7 million.
• Bella’s does not receive any funding. We rely solely on donations from our community to operate the residence.

Funding

• DVConnect is primarily funded by the Queensland Government.
• Our Womensline has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2002.
• Our Mensline has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2002.
• Our Sexual Assault Helpline has been funded by the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women since 2009.
• Bella’s Sanctuary DOES NOT receive any funding. We rely solely on donations from our community to operate this residence.
• Our work is made possible not only by the Queensland Government, but by the amazing support we receive from our corporate and community partners who also believe that domestic, family and sexual violence must end and who are doing their part to ensure that happens.
• DVConnect is a Registered Charity (Public Benevolent Institution entity subtype) with the ACNC. It is endorsed by the ATO as a Deductible Gift Recipient has authority to fundraise in Queensland under Charity Number CH1459.

Partners

• QSuper have funded a full-time Crisis Counsellor every year since 2016. This means 4000 additional calls can now be answered yearly. More
• Halcyon, Mirvac and 90 generous building suppliers built Bella’s Sanctuary, a $1.7m bridging-accommodation residence. More
• Maurice Blackburn provide pro bono professional services, as well as fundraising throughout the year. More
• Impact Office Supplies provide complimentary merchandise to help spread the DVConnect message. More
• RSPCA Queensland operate the Pets In Crisis Program that cares for pets while their families are relocating to safe accommodation. More 
• Queensland Rail donate complimentary long-haul travel to families who need to leave the town or city they reside in because of violence. More

Our Vision

All relationships are free from domestic, family and sexual violence.

Our Mission

Through collaboration we enable seamless pathways from violence to safety and beyond.

Our Values

• Respect
• Safety
• Equality
• Accountability

• Empowerment

 

We can help you

Call 1800 811 811