Rape and Domestic Violence Services Australia, the world-class counselling service, could be shut down in a matter of months -- all to increase profits for teleheath company Medibank Health Solutions.

Rising demand from women fleeing violence has led to a new corporate system for the nation’s rape and domestic violence hotline, 1800-RESPECT. But while callers were previously referred directly to a counselor, Medibank’s system funnels callers through operators who may simply refer them to online resources.

Advocates worry that women in need are being rushed off the phone and denied the services they deserve by Medibank’s business-first approach. But now, Medibank wants to put RDVSA’s counselling contract up for grabs -- further threatening the quality of support for vulnerable women for the sake of a cheaper contract.   

Sign the petition to call for Medibank to extend its contract with RDVSA.

Medibank has predicted a doubling of profits from call services it runs like 1800-RESPECT. And while many are boasting about their higher rates of call answering, others are already noticing a drop in services.

“We’ve had students call the hotline and it seems very much like there is a time limit on how long they can spend,” said Sharna Bremner of End Rape on Campus. Critics say MHS management means callers are getting rushed off the phone, more concerned with numbers like call wait time and calls answered than the actual quality of services offered.

If RDVSA loses its contract, it means women in crisis won’t get the expert support that it has offered for the past 50 years. It’s unacceptable for rape and domestic violence survivors seeking support to see public services drop in quality so a telehealth company like Medibank can see more profits. We need to come together now to call for Medibank to put quality over profits and extend RDVSA’s contract.  

Stand with RDVSA and its long history of service to women in need, and call on Medibank to renew its contract.