Cairns Domestic and Family Violence co-responder team extended

• The Crisafulli Government is investing in the Cairns domestic and family violence (DFV) Co-Responder team with an extension of funding.
• The initiative puts victims first by pairing police officers with specialist practitioners to provide immediate crisis support, including intervention, counselling, safety planning and perpetrator accountability.
• While Labor was weak on crime, the Crisafulli Government is committed to providing practical support to victim survivors.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering on its commitment to put victims first and hold perpetrators to account, extending funding for the Cairns Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Co-Responder team for a further 12 months.

This is vital investment, providing certainty for more than 25 frontline staff ensuring victim-survivors receive immediate, specialist support across the Cairns region.

The Cairns DFV Co-Responder model is a partnership between the Queensland Police Service and Relationships Australia Queensland, where specialist practitioners work alongside police to provide immediate, trauma-informed support to victim-survivors.

The model strengthens frontline responses by improving victim safety, reducing the risk of victim misidentification, supporting children exposed to violence, and connecting perpetrators with behaviour change programs to reduce reoffending.

The extension builds on the Crisafulli Government’s investments in targeted frontline services that deliver measurable outcomes for victim-survivors, including:

• Police Protection Directions that give police stronger powers to provide immediate protection for victim-survivors.

• The rollout of GPS monitoring for the courts to impose on high-risk perpetrators.

• Delivering the Domestic and Family Violence Peak four years earlier than Labor planned.

• Establishing Queensland’s first standalone Sexual Violence Peak after decades of advocacy from the sector.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Amanda Camm said the extension reflected the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to putting victims first by backing the frontline services that keep vulnerable Queenslanders safe.

“We are extending the Cairns DFV Co-Responder team so that victims can continue to receive immediate and specialised support,” Minister Camm said.

“Our government is focused on reforming the domestic violence system, after domestic and family violence incidents skyrocketed under Labor.

“We are investing in our frontline DFV services, holding perpetrators accountable and ensuring victims can receive help sooner.”

Natasha Rae, CEO Relationships Australia Queensland said funding certainty means they can retain the highly skilled domestic and family violence specialists who have built trusted relationships with police, local services and the Cairns community.

“That continuity strengthens the response for victim-survivors and supports better outcomes over time,” she said.