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."
