About Us

  • About DVConnect

     

    DVConnect Womensline – 1800 811 811 (24 hours 7 Days – Queensland only service)

     

    DVConnect Womensline  is the only statewide telephone service offering women who are experiencing domestic or family violence 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
    We offer free , professional and non-judgemental telephone support to you, wherever you live in Queensland. *Calls to 1800 811 811 are free from any public phone.
    We can arrange practical assistance such as counselling, intervention, transport and emergency accommodation for Queensland women and their children who are in danger from a violent partner or family member.
    Believe it or not DVConnect Womensline takes around 8000 calls every month from Queensland women who are in fear of or in immediate threat of danger from domestic or family violence, and on average we assist over 600 women and often more than 500 children to be moved to safety every month.

    In addition and with help from the RSPCA Qld – we also assist between 12 and 20 pets to safety each month through pets in crisis program.

     

    DVConnect Sexual Assault Line – 1800 010 120 (7.30 am to 11.30 pm 7 Days – Queensland only service)

     

    Our Sexual Assault Helpline offers Queensland callers telephone support and counselling to women, men and young people, who have been sexually assaulted or abused; providing a sensitive, non–judgmental service. We can provide information about how to contact local services, such as specialist counselling centres and health clinics. The Sexual Assault helpline also assists professionals and workers in the community who are supporting survivors of sexual assault.

     

    DVConnect Mensline Telephone Service – 1800 600 636 (9am to Midnight 7 Days – Queensland Only Service) 

     

    DVConnect also helps around 350 men each month with guidance via our Mensline service.

    Importantly Mensline offers specialist assistance for men who are seeking help and looking for ways to address their own use of violence and other destructive patterns in their personal lives and relationships, as well as those who may be (or have been) victims of violence themselves. Mensline also receives calls from family members, parents and friends seeking information about issues of domestic or family violence.

    DVConnect works tirelessly to help women and children involved in domestic and family violence – but we believe this is a whole of community concern!

    Our Additional Services

     

    Court Support

    DVConnect provides state-wide support and guidance over the phone around the requirements and procedures involved with court processes as they relate to Domestic and Family Violence issues and a face to face support service in some courts in SE Queensland.

    Mensline provides a court support service at seven Magistrates Courts in South East Queensland for men involved in domestic and family violence procedures.

    Court work and related information can also be accessed from all over the State by phoning Mensline, on 1800 600 636

    Our aim is to give men the opportunity to access professional support and information to help them with improved communication, and to understand the effects of violence and abuse on them and their families at this critical time.

    This support can take the form of:-

    Explaining court procedures and processes and the choices available (Not legal advice) Counselling men who may be experiencing a range of emotions; either before or after court appearances

    Providing choices and options for counselling, treatment or support programs

    Many men can leave the court process feeling very angry and/or depressed, and often do not know where to begin to work through these strong emotions.

    This may manifest in further expressions of violence towards their families, the wider community or themselves.

    It is intended that Mensline Court Support service allows men to feel heard and supported at this crucial time, and assists men to gain the support needed to make positive choices towards getting their lives back in order, and to stop using violence in their relationships.

    We cannot provide men with legal advice, advocate for individuals or represent them at court.

    Police Referrals

    Police Referrals is a referral mechanism used by Queensland Police and other emergency service agencies to locate appropriate community or support services for people they have come in to contact with and who they believe may benefit from some assistance.

    In 2012, DVConnect responded to over 4,000 ‘Police Referrals’ referred by the police and we expect this number to gradually increase as more and more police take up this referral option.

    DVConnect responds to Police Referrals requests by making follow up telephone calls to people that the police have met as a result of being called out in relation to domestic violence.

    This may be because the police have concerns about the ongoing safety or wellbeing of a particular individual or family member and believe they may benefit from a chat with one of our Mensline counsellors, or depending on the circumstances perhaps some advice and a referral to another appropriate service.

    What we do (and what we cannot do) to help…

    We can – provide free telephone crisis counselling and support 24 hours a day seven days a week

    We can – if a caller’s first language is not English arrange for free interpreter services

    We can – assist with developing a safety plan for victims and their children

    We can – provide emergency transport and accommodation if necessary

    We can – provide advice about and referral to women’s safe accommodation

    We cannot – provide women or men with legal advice

    We cannot – support women or men financially with costs associated with relocating personal effects

    We cannot – provide ongoing face to face therapeutic counselling