THE Federal Government has committed $67.2 million over four years to continue Queensland’s 500 Workers Initiative, aimed at strengthening frontline support for people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
The funding, secured through to 2030, will help retain and resource specialist workers across Queensland – from South East Queensland to Far North, Gulf Country and outback communities.
Federal Assistant Minister for Social Services and the Prevention of Family Violence Ged Kearney announced the investment alongside Bonner MP Kara Cook at the Red Rose Foundation.
Based in Bonner, the Red Rose Foundation works to prevent family violence deaths through specialist support, advocacy, education, research and systems reform.
Ms Cook, a former domestic and family violence lawyer, said the funding would help ensure victim-survivors could access skilled support when they made the difficult decision to seek help.
“In just three months, the Red Rose Foundation, who are based in Bonner, received more than 2000 requests for support,” Ms Cook said.
“That’s more than 20 every single day, and behind every one of those requests is someone who needs help.
“Half of the client-facing workers here at Red Rose are funded through Labor’s 500 Workers Initiative.”
Ms Cook said additional frontline workers gave services greater capacity to respond to people in crisis.
“These workers don’t just provide a service; their expertise, compassion and support can change the course of someone’s life and, when it comes to strangulation, can save it,” she said.
“This $67.2 million investment is about making sure that when a woman finds the courage to reach out for help, there is someone there to answer.”
The funding forms part of a reported 72 per cent increase in national funding for frontline responses under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032.
The Federal Government says it has invested more than $4.4 billion nationally since 2022 across prevention, early intervention, crisis response and recovery services, including more than $255 million in Queensland.
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek said the new funding would support more women and children to escape violence safely.
“Frontline family, domestic and sexual violence workers are skilled and dedicated, providing critical assistance to victim-survivors,” Ms Plibersek said.
“This funding boost means that more women and children in Queensland will be able to escape violence safely with the support of dedicated frontline workers who are equipped to help them heal and recover.”
Ms Kearney said specialist care needed to be accessible regardless of where a person lived.
“It’s a stark reality that one in four women have experienced family and domestic violence and one in five have experienced sexual violence,” she said.
