In a seemingly positive development, the announcement of additional federal funding aimed at bolstering the workforce that addresses domestic, family, and sexual violence in states and territories has been met with cautious optimism. However, the specifics of how the $292 million enhancement to the 500 Workers program will impact local organizations in Canberra remain unclear.
Sue Webeck, the CEO of Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS), expressed uncertainty regarding whether the ACT government plans to expand the current workforce or redirect funds in new areas. DVCS operates a 24/7 crisis helpline and is one of four organizations that have already benefited from this initiative, alongside YWCA Canberra.
Frances Crimmins, the CEO of YWCA Canberra, echoed Ms. Webeck’s concerns about the lack of clarity on how the recent funding will support local services. “We will not have a clear understanding of the funding distribution until the ACT government relays that information,” Ms. Crimmins stated. She emphasized the importance of transparency in funding allocation.
The federal government unveiled the latest funding increase during an event at YWCA Canberra last month, building on the previous commitment of $169.4 million made in 2023 when the 500 Workers initiative was initiated to create new community-based roles in frontline services.
Funding from the federal government is distributed to states and territories based on their population sizes, which are then tasked with allocating these funds to local service providers. Initially, the ACT was allocated $2.5 million to support 7.6 full-time positions from 2023 to 2026 across four organizations. The breakdown included four full-time positions at the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, two at YWCA Canberra, one at the Multicultural Hub, and 0.6 at DVCS, which corresponds to about three standard eight-hour shifts per week for one crisis hotline worker.
Despite these allocations, DVCS has expressed concerns about being under-resourced. Last year, the organization’s 24/7 intervention service assisted over 700 individuals monthly, receiving nearly 1,900 calls in November alone. The Women’s Legal Centre ACT noted that the hotline serves as a critical, often sole, point of safety for women and children at risk, yet DVCS can only respond to about half of incoming calls, and even fewer during peak times.
Ms. Webeck questioned the rationale behind the existing staff allocation, stating, “It baffles me how the government determined the distribution of these positions.” She highlighted the serious implications of being unable to answer calls from individuals facing dire situations, stressing the urgency of the crisis hotline’s role.
Looking ahead, Ms. Webeck believes that the extended funding from the 500 Workers program will likely have minimal impact, potentially resulting in just a few additional hours of support on the hotline. ACT Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, Marisa Paterson, acknowledged the limited potential for significant workforce growth at DVCS due to the funding structure. When asked about the likelihood of increased staffing, she indicated that it was “likely not” feasible.
Furthermore, DVCS has faced challenges in securing stable funding. In its budget submission for the 2026-27 ACT budget, the organization reported an impending net reduction in core funding, which would necessitate cuts to its crisis line and support services. This decision came despite multiple reviews that highlighted the need for increased financial support to maintain high-quality services.
After considerable community and political advocacy, Ms. Paterson verbally committed to maintaining DVCS’s current funding level for another year. However, Ms. Webeck emphasized that the existing resources are still insufficient for the pressing needs they address.
Concerns regarding the ACT government’s management of domestic, family, and sexual violence funding have been raised, particularly in relation to the Safer Families Levy. This annual $60 fee added to household rates was introduced in 2016 following several tragic incidents of domestic violence, with the goal of generating funds to enhance the territory’s response to these issues.
While there were initial hopes for the Safer Families Levy, critics, including Ms. Crimmins, have pointed out that much of the funding has been diverted to administrative functions rather than frontline services. An audit revealed significant transparency issues in how funds were allocated and communicated with stakeholders, suggesting an outdated understanding of sector needs.
Ms. Crimmins remains hopeful that the recommendations from the audit will be acted upon and that the ACT’s domestic violence strategy, currently in development and anticipated for release in mid-2026, will also contribute positively to addressing these challenges.
Lastly, a recent report highlighted deficiencies in reporting across various ACT government departments, revealing a complex network of oversight that complicates effective responses to domestic and family violence issues.
