Our featured service this month is 1800RESPECT, a national telephone and online service providing counselling, information, guidance, and support for people affected by sexual assault or domestic violence. This service is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services and delivered by Medibank Health Service.

1800RESPECT aims to support people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing sexual assault, domestic violence or family violence, their friends, family, and workers or professionals supporting someone affected by sexual assault or domestic violence.

What is 1800RESPECT?

1800RESPECT provides help with safety planning and finding support for those directly affected by sexual assault or domestic violence online and over the phone. They also provide information about helping a friend or relative affected by violence and abuse, and guidance on professional responsibilities, and how to best assist people experiencing sexual assault and domestic and family violence.

The 1800RESPECT website includes information and guidance for people seeking support, experiencing violence, and abuse, supporting someone, safety planning, finding support services, and healthy relationships. 1800RESPECT has developed 2 apps to provide information and support to Australian women. The Daisy app was designed to connect women to nearby support services and the Sunny app was designed to support women with disabilities who have experienced violence and abuse.

Who is 1800RESPECT for?

1800RESPECT targets all who are experiencing sexual assault or domestic and family violence, as well as those seeking to support someone else. Professionals are also encouraged to use 1800RESPECT for support with secondary referrals or vicarious trauma.

Is there a cost to use 1800RESPECT?

All calls to 1800RESPECT from landline or mobile phones are free. There is no cost to access the 1800RESPECT website and online counselling and both the Daisy and Sunny apps are free to download on both apple and android smartphones.

How to access 1800RESPECT

Anyone across Australia can contact 1800RESPECT via the 24-hour telephone counselling line at 1800 737 732 and the 24-hour online counselling available at https://www.1800respect.org.au/.

Both the Daisy app and the Sunny app are available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play store.