“Hi, I’m Cass! I’m a chatbot and am here to help you. Everything we talk about is completely private – are you ready to start chatting?”
Hello Cass was a project which sought to provide discreet access to localised, accurate information and support for people experiencing or affected by family and sexual violence via an SMS Chatbot.
After 4 years of operating as an independent not-for-profit, it was time for Hello Cass to say ‘Good bye’. We are incredibly proud of our efforts to send thousands of messages of reliable, accurate, discreet information for people affected by family and sexual violence. We will be publishing the research in the latter half of 2023.
1 in 4 Australian women experience some form of family or sexual violence in their lifetime, yet less than 15% of incidents of violence are reported. Hello Cass sought to make it easier for those experiencing or affected by family and sexual violence to ask questions about domestic violence, sexual assault, financial, emotional or psychological abuse – in way that felt just like texting a friend.
If you are looking for assistance, please contact 1800RESPECT for information on support in your area. If you’d like to get in touch with the team for more information, please send us an email.
In solidarity,
Emma & HC x
How it works
Start chatting with Cass by simply texting ‘hello’ to the Hello Cass mobile number – 0417 398 744 (Web, WhatsApp & Telegram coming soon!)
Then Cass, a friendly chatbot, will respond instantly, checking to make sure you’re safe and comfortable (remember, Hello Cass isn’t an emergency service!)
Once you’re comfortable, Cass will help guide you through information about family and sexual violence, including counselling services available, the legal system, safety planning and how to help build stronger relationships.
Start chatting with Cass by simply texting ‘hello’ to the Hello Cass mobile number – 0417 398 744 (Web, WhatsApp & Telegram coming soon!)
Then Cass, a friendly chatbot, will respond instantly, checking to make sure you’re safe and comfortable (remember, Hello Cass isn’t an emergency service!)
Once you’re comfortable, Cass will help guide you through information about family and sexual violence, including counselling services available, the legal system, safety planning and how to help build stronger relationships.
Community built
Hello Cass is a fully registered not-for-profit, and has been developed in consultation with a range of community health and prevention of violence against women organisations to ensure the content is accurate, safe, culturally-appropriate, and reflects the diversity of Australian women and their experiences.
These organisations include:
How it helps
Fear, shame, embarrassment, self-doubt, sympathy for the abuser, feeling like something wasn’t ‘bad enough’ or that they wouldn’t be believed are some reasons women give for not talking about or reporting violence.
These reasons are often known as ‘barriers,’ and they become even more complicated when you consider how our different backgrounds and cultures affect how we think and speak about family, sex and gender roles. Hello Cass has been developed in consultation with the peak bodies from the prevention of violence against women sector, as well as community health organisations and leaders to ensure the information and support provided is culturally-safe and inclusive.
The technology powering Hello Cass is a combination of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) features, and reliable, accessible SMS infrastructure. By building it in this way, information and support for domestic violence, sexual assault, emotional, psychological and financial abuse can be easily accessed by women and communities in regional and remote places – who are so often left behind.
FAQ
Can I use Hello Cass if I’m in immediate danger?
No, please call 000. Hello Cass is unable to provide assistance if you are in immediate danger, so dialing 000 is always the best service to contact if your safety is at risk.
Should I use Hello Cass instead of speaking to a counsellor?
Hello Cass seeks to serve as an early access point for those experiencing or affected by family and sexual violence, and has an extensive database of counselling services it recommends. The idea of Hello Cass is to give you some info and help you to feel more comfortable accessing a counsellor, if that is what you decide to do.
Who can use Hello Cass?
Hello Cass is available for anyone to use – and all messages are completely anonymous. We have developed Hello Cass with a focus on women survivors, however we are continuing to work with a broad audience in mind to provide relevant information to the LGBTQIA+ community, male victims of sexual or family violence, and men who have used violence and are looking to change their behaviour.
Does Hello Cass know who I am?
No, Hello Cass doesn’t collect any personal information at all. You can enter your postcode if you wish to find services near you, but it collects nothing identifiable about you specifically.
What happens to the information/data it gathers?
The anonymous data and information Hello Cass generates is collated into a report which we aim to deliver to participating organisations across the community health and prevention of violence against women sector. In doing this, Hello Cass returns the valuable insights that it generates to the organisations that are best positioned to provide assistance to victims of violence, as well as developing prevention campaigns and strategies. Once we have this part of Hello Cass up and running, we will make available a list of the organisations with access to these reports.
How can I chat with Hello Cass?
Hello Cass is currently available for Victorians via SMS on 0417 398 744, or right here on the website. Over the course of 2020, we will be releasing bots via the messaging platform Telegram and WhatsApp.
Why didn’t it answer my question?
We are working hard to continuously improve and develop more content for Hello Cass, however to ensure the content is safe and accurate, we do need to go through a process with experts before we can release information updates. Our focus is to develop a simple service that continually improves over time, but if you have a specific question, you can always give 1800 RESPECT a call on 1800 737 732, or email the Hello Cass team at say@hellocass.com.au.
Does Hello Cass work in different languages?
Hello Cass has been developed with multilingual capabilities and we are hard at work to secure further funding to bring languages other than English to the platform.
Where is it being used?
Hello Cass has launched for Victoria, Australia. We are busy working on a national roll-out plan, and will post updates via our facebook page. If you are interested in launching Hello Cass near you, get in touch with the team at say@hellocass.com.au.
Can you tell me more about phone safety?
Sure.
If you’re worried about someone having access to your phone, remember to delete the message history of your chat with Hello Cass.
Another good idea is to save the number under a different name in your phone – or not at all, and just look it up when you need it.
We have worked with the telcos to do our best to ensure Hello Cass is as discreet as possible. Most phone bills are not itemised, however it is a good idea to regularly change the password to your online phone account, if you have one.
And remember, if you’re feeling unsafe at the moment, the best thing to do is to call 000. The operators will help you to get immediate assistance and keep you safe.
Take care.
Can’t find what you are looking for? Get in touch with the Hello Cass team at say@hellocass.com.au.
Supporters
Make a tax deductible donation to Hello Cass via our Raisley page.
A Good Hood project
Myer Innovation Fund
Private Donors
Messaging gateway providers
Branding and identity
Digital design
Digital support
Media
I built a chatbot to make it easier to talk about violence against women. Here's why.
After celebrating one year of it in the world, Emma reflects on building Hello Cass in Women's Agenda...
Keynote Address – Pacific Connect Dialogue, Brisbane 2020
Emma was invited to deliver he keynote address at ICDP's Pacific Connect, Brisbane Dialogue. What an honour! Click through for the transcript.
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women at the U.S Embassy
Emma was invited to the U.S Embassy for a casual chat with the Consule General, Michael 'Mike' Kleine, no big deal...
Chatting with City of Yarra Mayor, Danae Bosler <3
City of Yarra's powerhouse Mayor, Danae Bosler, took some time out of her hectic schedule to chat with Emma about Hello Cass...
Hello Cass joins MAP 2019!
Emma recently took to the stage with her fellow MAP cohort as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week, and reflected on what drives her in Hello Cass...
Breakfasters Chat on RRR
Emma Koster chats about Hello Cass with the Breakfasters on RRR.org.au. Hear Emma at around the 1:45hr mark!
Our Founder, Emma Koster, interviewed in The Age
"While volunteering at a refugee camp in Germany two years ago, Australian tech developer, Emma Koster, had a fast introduction to just how shockingly widespread violence and sexual abuse against women can be..."
MEDIA RELEASE | Hello Cass Victorian Launch, May 8!
On May 8, 2019, Hello Cass goes live for all Victorians! Check out the media release for more info.
Hello Cass on the ABC
Hello Cass Founder, Emma Koster, chats with Simon Brown from the ABC about combining SMS and AI technology to deliver a service that also works for women in regional and remote communities.
Emma Koster on 3RRR radio
Talking chatbots, privacy and violence against women with Vanessa and the crew at Byte into IT on 3RRR.
About us
Founder – Emma Koster
“In 2013, I established Good Hood, with the purpose of developing creative digital solutions for social challenges. Hello Cass is the first piece of software from Good Hood, and as a proud feminist and committed advocate for gender equality, it is a project close to my heart.
I believe in working towards a future where technology is used for good; and where ‘good’ means for the good of all. Throughout my career, I have learned to approach each project by first asking ‘what is the problem, and what do we hope to change?’ Violence against women is a problem that affects 1 in 3 women in the world; it’s a problem that kills one woman every week in Australia. Hello Cass is my response to this urgent need for change. It is not perfect, and it will never be enough to ‘solve’ this problem—but it is my hope that Hello Cass can be a helpful, trustworthy, reassuring place to start.”
Say hello
To start chatting, text ‘hello’ to 0417 398 744
Hello Cass is now live for all Victorians!
We’re busy working on a national rollout, but if you’d like to get in touch with the team regardless of where you are in the world, please contact us via say@hellocass.com.au.
You can also sign-up for the occasional but exciting Hello Cass dispatch:
And, as always, if you’re in need of immediate support, please dial 000, or visit 1800respect.org.au.