EXTRA support is being provided for women and children experiencing domestic violence in the North West under a State Government funding package announced today by Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall.
Mr Marshall said an additional $320,000 would be provided to the Moree Area Homeless Servicesover the next two years for shelters and services in Moree, Narrabri and Gwydir local government areas. This will be on top of existing funding provided to the shelter by a number of government departments.
“Domestic violence is a largely hidden blight on our society that usually affects the most vulnerable among us,” Mr Marshall said.
“This funding boost means that women and children escaping domestic and family violence will have more access to support, housing and financial assistance with transport and food, 24 hours a day,” he said.
“The Women’s Shelter in Moree will now establish new after-hours intakes and provide additional support and housing options to help women and children leaving dangerous situations in the home.
“Already the local consortium is planning an expansion of the accommodation, and variety, that it offers.”
The roll out of the extra services to the local area is part of a $20 million boost to refuges and crisis accommodation services announced late last year by Minister for Family and Community Services Brad Hazzard and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Pru Goward.
Mr Marshall said the Women’s Shelter assisted hundreds of clients each year in through a wide range of accommodation and wrap around support programs including court advocacy, counselling services, healthy relationship programs, crisis accommodation and child and parenting support programs.
“The shelter provides invaluable services to Moree and the broader region and I’m delighted that this extra funding will help assist more women and children whenever they need support,” he said.
“The government has an important role to provide better support to domestic violence victims but I also call on locals to continue a community-wide effort to say violence is unacceptable.
“We have in our region some of the highest rates of domestic violence of anywhere in the state. It’s not something to be proud of and requires government and community to pull together to say no.”
Women fleeing domestic violence are also eligible for a rental subsidy, Start Safely, which will help around 3,500 families this year across NSW.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence:
- Anyone in immediate danger should call 000.
- For information and support call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463 or 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
- For information and referral to crisis accommodation and support call Link2home on 1800 152 152