Victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in Cairns will continue to receive immediate specialist support, with funding for the Cairns Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Co-Responder team extended for a further 12 months.
The funding extension provides certainty for more than 25 frontline workers and ensures the continuation of a service that plays a vital role in supporting victim-survivors across the Cairns region.
The Cairns DFV Co-Responder model brings together Queensland Police Service officers and specialist practitioners from Relationships Australia Queensland to deliver a coordinated and trauma-informed response to domestic and family violence incidents. By working alongside police, specialist practitioners can provide immediate crisis intervention, safety planning, counselling and referrals to ongoing support services.
The model is designed to strengthen frontline responses by improving victim safety, reducing the risk of victim misidentification and ensuring children exposed to violence receive appropriate support. It also helps connect perpetrators with intervention and behaviour change programs aimed at reducing future offending.
The funding extension builds on broader efforts to strengthen Queensland’s response to domestic and family violence and invest in services that deliver practical support for victim-survivors. These initiatives include the rollout of Police Protection Directions, GPS monitoring for high-risk perpetrators, the establishment of Queensland’s Domestic and Family Violence Peak, and the creation of Queensland’s first standalone Sexual Violence Peak.
Maintaining the Cairns Co-Responder team ensures vulnerable Queenslanders can continue to access immediate support following domestic and family violence incidents, while frontline services are equipped to provide the assistance needed to improve safety outcomes for individuals and families across the region.
The continued investment also supports the retention of highly skilled domestic and family violence specialists whose experience and strong relationships with local agencies help deliver coordinated and effective support to the Cairns community.
I want to thank Minister Amanda Camm MP for visiting our region as well as the team at Relationships Australia for the incredible work that they do and will continue to do for our region.
