The Crisafulli Government is taking decisive action to ensure Queenslanders experiencing domestic and family violence can access help when they need it most.
Following troubling reports of unanswered crisis calls and delays in support, the Government initiated a review into DVConnect in December 2024. DVConnect operates the WomensLine, a vital 24/7 service for women in crisis across Queensland.
The review revealed serious concerns, including a sharp drop in responsiveness. In October 2024, DVConnect was answering just 41.9% of calls to its WomensLine. At the same time, call abandonment rates surged—388% more vulnerable women abandoned calls between July 2023 and March 2025, highlighting the urgency for intervention.
In addition, the review identified transparency issues during previous contract negotiations under the former government, particularly after DVConnect lost its contract with 1800RESPECT.
Since the review, the Crisafulli Government has worked closely with DVConnect and departmental leaders to improve outcomes for victim-survivors.
These efforts are now showing results. From April to June 2025, call response rates rose to 73%, and a new peak-time triage trial achieved a 93% response rate. Abandoned calls have fallen from a high of 10,079 in Q2 2024 to just 4,001 by the end of Q2 2025.
While these improvements are significant, the Government is clear that the job isn’t finished.
The Crisafulli Government is also delivering on its election commitment to strengthen services across the state, with a new 24/7 crisis support line for North Queensland on track to be operational by July 2026.
This new service will double DVConnect’s capacity, help ease pressure on the existing crisis line, and ensure women in regional areas have quicker access to support when they need it.
Additionally, the Government is working with DVConnect to establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance benchmarks, ensuring transparency and accountability going forward.
The Crisafulli Government remains committed to improving crisis support services, ensuring that when Queenslanders call for help—they are heard. Strengthening DVConnect is just one step in a broader plan to support victim-survivors, enhance safety, and build a stronger, more responsive system for all.
