Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Henderson for her question and her ongoing interest in making sure that we have the settings right to try and prevent domestic violence from happening before it even starts. The national campaign Help is Here is a campaign that we launched in May this year. It's funded through the $150 million domestic violence package that was announced. This extra funding is absolutely directed at making sure that anybody who might be at risk of domestic violence knows what support is available to them and where they are able to get those services. The Help is Here campaign reaches Australians in a number of different ways: through the internet and, obviously, in their homes on the television, but most importantly in shopping centres and in magazines and newspapers, where people who may be at greater risk are often by themselves. The two main contact points are through the 1800RESPECT hotline and the dedicated MensLine.

The campaign uniquely reflects the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic by recognising that, during the pandemic, some people at risk of domestic violence may not be able to leave their house, apart from perhaps to go shopping. The Help is Here campaign aims to reach victims of domestic violence and abuse through signs in rest rooms in shopping centres, to make sure that they know where they can ring if they need to get some help or if they are finding themselves in difficult times. By directing people to the national hotlines and through the partnership networks that we have, we provide assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week so people can know that they can go online or onto the phone and speak to a trained counsellor from the particular initiatives that are being funded.

I also want to thank the private sector for coming on board with this particular initiative, the Help is Here campaign: Channel 7 and the major supermarket chains, as well as Amazon. I also acknowledge the work of the states and territories, to which we've provided $130 million to support them in their frontline service provision.