The Albanese Labor Government has announced additional funding for three early intervention support services for men, including those who perpetrate or experience family and domestic violence.
No to Violence will receive an additional $1.89 million from 2024-25 to 2025-26 for the Men's Referral Service and the Brief Intervention Service, and Lifeline Australia will receive an additional $800,000 in 2024-25 for MensLine Australia.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said this funding supports the early intervention goals of the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022-2032.
Since 2022, our Government has invested $4 billion across 113 initiatives and actions supporting the goals of the National Plan.
"We know with increased awareness and media reporting on family, domestic and sexual violence, more people are reaching out to these helplines. This is a good thing," Minister Rishworth said.
"Particularly with our campaigns like Stop it at the Start and Consent Can't Wait fostering understanding of what family, domestic and sexual violence is and how it starts, early intervention services are assisting more men across the country.
"Since 2022, the Government has invested over $400 million in early intervention, as a crucial component in enacting our goal of ending violence against women in one generation."
Assistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence, Justine Elliot, said the Government knows how important it is to intervene early in order to break the cycle of violence.
"Our government is proud to deliver an almost $2.7 million funding boost for these vital early intervention services," Assistant Minister Elliot said.
"These national programs importantly engage with men early to stop violence from escalating and protect victim-survivors from immediate and long-term harm."
The Men's Referral Service provides a 24/7 counselling, information and referral service for men who use violence, their friends, family and colleagues, and professionals working with these men.
The Brief Intervention Service provides multi-session telephone-based counselling and referral options to assist men who have used violence to get further support.
MensLine Australia is a free 24/7 national service that provides early intervention support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, addiction, relationships, stress, wellbeing, and their use or experience of family and domestic violence.
