Media Statement released by DVassist
Specialist counselling is helping people affected by family and
domestic violence in regional Western Australia regain confidence, improve
their wellbeing and rebuild their lives, but demand for support exceeds funded
capacity, a new independent evaluation has found.
Completed by the Centre for Social Impact at The University of
Western Australia , the evaluation found DVassist fills a critical gap in
regional, rural and remote WA by providing free, specialist phone counselling
and case management for victim-survivors recovering from family and domestic
violence.
Over the two-year evaluation period, from July 2024 to June 2026,
DVassist supported 510 clients and delivered 1,795 counselling and case
management sessions.
Among applicable clients, 92 per cent reported improvements in
their mental health and wellbeing, while 95 per cent reported increased
knowledge of where and how to access other appropriate services.
The researchers found DVassist helped service users strengthen
their safety, better understand the effects of abuse, develop practical
strategies for recovery, and connect with legal, financial, medical, housing
and other supports.
However, the report also found increasing demand for specialist
support had exceeded the service’s funded capacity, resulting in the
introduction of a waitlist and delayed access for new clients.
DVassist CEO, Ella Ailenei, said the findings reinforced the
importance of making recovery support available beyond the immediate crisis.
“People can experience the effects of family and domestic violence
long after the immediate danger has passed,” she said.
“They may be navigating court proceedings, financial difficulties
and the impacts of trauma, while trying to rebuild their confidence and care
for their families.
“Recovery and
healing focused counselling provides space for people to make sense of what
they have experienced, recognise that the abuse was not their fault and take
steps towards the future they want.”
The
evaluation found telephone-based counselling helped overcome barriers associated
with living regionally including distance, travel costs, childcare
responsibilities and concerns about privacy in small communities.
Service
users also described telephone counselling as providing a greater sense of
privacy and emotional safety when discussing traumatic experiences.
Service
users valued being supported by the same counsellor over time, reducing the
need to repeatedly recount traumatic experiences and allowing support to adapt
as their circumstances and priorities changed.
They
described feeling heard, believed and respected, with many reporting greater
confidence in setting boundaries, advocating for themselves and navigating other
services.
Ms Ailenei
said the findings highlighted the need for sustained investment in specialist
recovery and healing support across regional WA.
“Where
someone lives should not determine whether they can access the specialist support,
they need to recover from abuse,” she said.
“This
evaluation demonstrates the difference specialist counselling can make. It also
shows that demand is outstripping the resources currently available to deliver
it.
“Sustainable
funding would enable DVassist to reach more people while maintaining the
consistent, individualised support that service users tell us matters so much.”
The report
also identified opportunities to increase awareness of DVassist and strengthen referral
pathways so that people can connect with specialist support earlier.
“Some
people spend years seeking support before finding a service that understands
their experiences,” Ms Ailenei said.
“We want
people affected by family and domestic violence to know that specialist support
is available, and we want regional health and community services to know how to
connect them with it.”
