Over $300k Awarded to Strengthen Regional Response to Technology-Facilitated Domestic and Family Violence

Frontline workers will have further access to crucial resources when supporting victims of domestic and family violence thanks to a renewed partnership between Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation (NPCF) and the Hunter Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) Consortium.

After partnering in 2024 to launch the Technology-Facilitated Abuse Playbook, the new 2-year partnership will see NPCF provide $345,000 to fund its scaling and digitisation.

Technology-facilitated abuse refers to harmful actions carried out online or through digital technology, such as harassing or threatening, cyberstalking, and restricting or controlling access to devices or accounts.

Studies from the Australian Government eSafety Commissoner and NSW Government have shown almost all of Australian DFV practitioners have supported clients experiencing technology-facilitated abuse and almost two-thirds of recorded coercive control incidents involved harassment, tracking and monitoring.

Hunter DFV Consortium is instrumental in working towards preventing domestic and family violence, and supporting those affected by in across the region.

The partnership, which will be led by Consortium member Family Support Newcastle, will support an initial cohort of 300 caseworkers across the Hunter region. These workers will be upskilled through the digital resources, with the practical, trauma informed tools they need to use in the field of DFV violence perpetrated through technology.

Family Support CEO Lauren Fisher the partnership will help them strengthen the organisation’s impact across the Hunter region.

“The Hunter DFV Consortium is incredibly grateful to the Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation for recognising the urgency of this issue and investing in innovative responses that strengthen the capacity of the domestic and family violence sector,” Ms Fisher said.

“This project represents a truly collaborative, regionally driven response to an increasingly complex challenge. By equipping frontline workers with practical digital resources and training, we can better support victim-survivors experiencing tech-facilitated abuse.”.

Newcastle Permanent Charitable Foundation Board Chair Catherine Robson said the Foundation is proud to support an organisation doing lifechanging work within our communities.

“It is an honour to be able to partner with Hunter Domestic and Family Violence Consortium again and digitise the Technology-Facilitated Abuse Playbook, which is an important next step of this initiative,” Robson said.

“Resources like this Playbook are becoming a crucial need within our communities to help those in their most challenging times.

“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting organisations that empower individuals and strengthen our communities and we look forward to seeing the growing impact for years to come.”

Hunter Domestic and Family Violence Consortium is a unique collaboration of DFV and Homelessness specialist non-government services in the Hunter region NSW including Family Support Newcastle, Got Your Back Sista, Jenny’s Place, Warlga Ngurra, Upper Hunter Homeless Support, Port Stephens Family and Neighbourhood Services, Nova for Women and Children, and Carries Place.