Violence support requests surge 40% but Canberra services strained
Requests to Women's Legal Centre ACT jumped 40% last year but the service has no extra funding to meet rising demand.
Four in ten ACT women have experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. The Women's Legal Centre ACT saw requests for help surge 40% last year alone.
The centre has no extra money or staff to match this demand. Many people seeking help cannot get it.
A national Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission report warns about this gap. Years of investment and reform have not made things safer as they should.
The report points out two main problems. Sexual violence needs dedicated ongoing funding.
Court and family law systems can harm people fleeing violence. Frontline services across Canberra are under severe pressure, according to Women's Legal Centre director Elena Rosenman.
The Canberra Rape Crisis Centre served over 5,400 clients last year. It handled over 7,200 crisis texts and 4,300 crisis emails.
- 40% increase last year
- Request surge
- Four in ten ACT women
- Lifetime prevalence
- 5,400+ served last year
- CRCC clients
- Rising year-on-year for about five years
- Trend length
Why it mattersStretched services mean more people in crisis do not get the help they need when it matters most.
AustraliaMany Canberra residents facing violence, especially women and gender-diverse people, cannot access affordable legal or specialist support.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
