Millions of dollars will be poured into Canberra's domestic violence services in the next territory budget, with the government increasing a levy to fund the investment.
As part of the 2026-27 ACT budget, the government will invest $44.2 million over four years to strengthen frontline services and provide long-term funding.
The government will also increase a household levy by $5 a year from mid-2027 to help fund services.
Domestic Violence Crisis Service deputy chief executive Brooke McKail said the organisation had been trying to "break out" of one or two-year contracts for some time.
"This maintains our current funding levels and provides a small uplift ... [but] we will not be able to answer every call with this funding," she said.
"We are seeing an increase in demand across the community, and partly that's because people are recognizing family violence earlier, they're reaching out for help more quickly.
"The types of violence, the levels of technological abuse, continue to grow in complexity, and we need to respond to that as a service."
The investment is set to provide certainty to the sector while strengthening and ensuring the right supports are in place for the ACT community, a government spokesperson said.
"Domestic, family and sexual violence is an ongoing national crisis. This investment reflects the government's commitment to addressing the current crisis and preventing future violence through tailored, responsive services. It is also focused on ensuring frontline services are there when the community needs them most," the spokesperson said.
The investment will be partly offset by an increase to the Safer Families Levy on ACT households of $5 a year for three years, from 2027-28.
The levy is expected to fund about $9 million worth of the investment. It was already increased from $50 to $60 in 2025-26.
Key investments in the June 2026 budget include $18.5 million for core domestic, family and sexual violence response services - including the Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Canberra Rape Crisis Centre and YWCA Canberra.
Women and children escaping domestic violence were left unable to access $2000 support grants after funding for the ACT scheme ran out early in February 2025.
The funding also includes $2.9 million for critical services to help meet growing demand, $6.7 million for behaviour change programs, including funding for EveryMan and Room4Change, and $4.1 million for programs supporting children and young people as victims in their own right.
More than $2 million will go to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander victims of sexual violence via direct funding to Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, with additional funding to provide tailored supports for multicultural communities, LGBTIQA+ Canberrans and people experiencing financial abuse.
This investment includes a $4.43 million contribution from the Commonwealth as part of the Federation Funding Agreement on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-30.
ACT Treasurer Chris Steel said investing in frontline domestic, family, and sexual violence services was essential.
"This budget is responsive to the needs of the community sector and is responsive to the needs of our community. It includes increased funding and wherever possible makes temporary positions permanent all within a transparent funding envelope," he said.
"Providing ongoing funding certainty means these frontline services can focus on their critical work in our community."
ACT Minister for the Prevention of Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Marisa Paterson said the government was laying the foundations for tailored, responsive and appropriate services.
"Importantly, this funding is not just about addressing today's pressures, it's about building a more holistic, sustainable, responsive system that can continue to support people as demand grows. It reflects our commitment to working in partnership with the sector, and delivering real change for the community as part of our broader plan for Canberra," she said.
