Queensland men choose change and seek support to stop using violence
Queensland men reached out for support in high numbers this Father’s Day, with DVConnect Mensline answering all but two calls from men seeking help when it mattered most.
DVConnect CEO Joanne Jessop said Father’s Day is often a powerful reminder of the kind of father, partner and role model men want to be, making it a significant day for reflection and help-seeking.
“Father’s Day is not just a day of celebration. For many men, it’s a day of reflection,” Ms Jessop said.
“It can shine a light on strained relationships, separation from children, the impact of anger or violence, and difficult family dynamics. For some men, it becomes the moment they decide they want things to be different.”
“This Father’s Day, many Queensland men reached out for support. Thanks to the dedication of our Mensline team, we missed only two calls across the entire day.”
“The best Father’s Day gift some children will ever receive is a dad who asks for help and chooses to change. Every call answered is an opportunity to make a family safer.”
DVConnect Mensline provides free and confidential counselling, information and referrals for men concerned about their behaviour, emotional wellbeing, relationships or use of violence, as well as men who are themselves experiencing violence. It is Queensland’s statewide specialist telephone service for men seeking support. Ms Jessop said the Father’s Day result sends a powerful message that more men are willing to seek help before problems escalate.
“Every one of those calls represents a man taking responsibility, asking questions, seeking help or trying to build a better future for himself and his family.”
“We often hear about domestic and family violence after a crisis has occurred. What we don’t hear enough about are the men who pick up the phone beforehand and say, ‘I need help’.”
“Those calls matter. They are opportunities to interrupt cycles of violence, strengthen relationships and create safer homes for partners, children and families.”
“While many Queenslanders were spending the day with family, our Mensline counsellors were on the phones making sure men did not have to face their challenges alone.”
Demand for DVConnect Mensline has continued to grow as more men seek early intervention support and accountability-based responses. The service increasingly supports men at the point where they are ready to make changes, before violence becomes more entrenched. Ms Jessop said the near-perfect response rate on Father’s Day highlighted both the importance of the service and the commitment of the counsellors who staff it.
