Australia's national domestic violence hotline does not accept calls from men. All men are referred to a service which "helps men change their abusive and violent behaviour".

In light of the recent discussions around domestic violence, I thought it might be worth discussing an issue that exists with our national, public funded, domestic violence hotline (1800RESPECT)

When the national domestic violence hotline receives a call it screens it according to the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework and Practice Guides.

Responses to men who report or are assessed to be victims of violence in a heterosexual relationship

in all circumstances where a man is initially assessed as or claiming to be a victim of family violence in the context of a heterosexual relationship, you should refer him to a men's family violence service for comprehensive assessment or to the Victims of Crime Helpline. His female (ex)partner must always be referred to a women's family violence service for assessment, irrespective of whether she is thought to be the victim or aggressor.

There is some additional explanatory text which you might like to read. The basic rational is that men presenting as victims may also be abusers (true for either gender to some extent).

There is a callout to the Victims of Crime Helpline for people in emergency situations, but most will be referred to a family violence service.

AFAIK, there are two family violence services 1800RESPECT refers men to.

The first is the Men's Referral Service operated by No To Violence. Here's how they describe themselves and a few other services they offer:

No to Violence provides a range of services to support men concerned about their behaviour to change what they are doing and keep women, children and communities safer.

The second possibility is a referral to Mensline's Changing For Good service. Here's how they describe themselves:

The Changing for Good service provides a one-to-one telephone counselling service for men who want to maintain respectful relationships without using violence.

How is it okay that the services available, via our national hotline, to male victims of domestic violence (who aren't at imminent risk) are services which presume the male is the abuser?