Updated August 2019

These service specifications (specifications) are for the provider that the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) contracts with to deliver the National Sexual Violence Helpline
(helpline). Providers’ Outcome Agreements require that the helpline is delivered in accordance with these specifications. These specifications form part of the Outcome Agreement.
(From the document). This is a living document which may be
updated from time to time. Check the website for updates.

Background:
"To date, services have been funded at the community level, without formal nationwide infrastructure or permanent funding to support them. Historically, sexual violence services
in New Zealand have been under-resourced with limited capacity to meet demand.

In response to these issues:
• the Taskforce for Action on Sexual Violence made 71 recommendations about services in 2009;
• the 2013 cross-agency review aimed to review the state of the sector, and provide support in the short term as well as look into long term solutions;
• Budget 14 secured $10.4m over two years for the short-term stabilisation of the specialist sexual violence services;
• the Social Service Committee made 32 recommendations following its inquiry into the funding of specialist sexual violence service;
• the overall inquiry found that current specialist sexual violence social services do not provide adequate cover, current funding approaches are insufficient, and having stable and effective services would significantly reduce the harm and costs of sexual violence in New Zealand;
• the sector has continually struggled to meet the demand for its services, and funding has tended to be time-limited and contributory in nature;
• the Government accepted the overarching findings of the Committee's report [follow link], and accepted all of the issues raised within its recommendations.

The Government acknowledged in its report that the sexual violence sector is a specialist sector that has been operating on limited funding since its inception. Funding to the sector has been both contributory and time limited, with contracts often rolling over on a 12-month basis. These contractual and funding arrangements have led to difficulties for the sector to build capability and co-ordinate resources for a more integrated response.

Through Budget 2016, $46 million over four years to support specialist sexual violence services to better support victims and prevent sexual violence was announced. Within this
funding was the requirement to design and implement a national helpline that provided information and support to people across New Zealand affected by sexual harm." (page 24).
Record #6768