❓ Mr. Punch asks about the progress of the new therapeutic refuge in Peel for women and children escaping domestic violence. The Minister responds by outlining the government's commitment to addressing domestic violence and the integrated services planned for the refuge.
AnsweredQoN 304Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE — PEEL REFUGE
304. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to provide more crisis accommodation for women
and children escaping domestic violence. Can the minister update the house
about the new therapeutic refuge for the Peel and advise how it will support
women to get their lives back on track?
VIOLENCE — PEEL REFUGE
304. Mr D.T. PUNCH to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to provide more crisis accommodation for women
and children escaping domestic violence. Can the minister update the house
about the new therapeutic refuge for the Peel and advise how it will support
women to get their lives back on track?
AnswerView source ↗
It is important that people
understand the extent of the work that is done in refuges around the state. I acknowledge
that there is an increasing understanding in Australia, particularly in Western
Australia, that we have a problem with domestic violence, and I think there is
a commitment across all parties to do something about that. How do we intervene
effectively for victims and survivors of domestic violence, who are often women
with children? How do we intervene effectively and make sure that services are
best placed to deal with the complex issues surrounding domestic violence?
Sadly, many victims of domestic violence also experience mental health issues,
drug and alcohol abuse, financial challenges and the like, and that is why in planning
for the new refuge in Peel, we are looking to co-locate a number of services to
make sure that the fundamentals are right in a therapeutic approach for people
who need assistance at that refuge. We know that we have very good services
around the state for mental health assistance, drug and alcohol abuse and the
like, but we often struggle to co-locate them and make sure that we surround
those vulnerable people when they need it and not expect them to traverse their
way through different services because they do not. They do not make their way
through those services but fall through the cracks and the cycle of
disadvantage is repeated. We have consulted with the sector about the new
refuge in Peel. We have looked at best practice around the country and the
world and we are looking to ensure that from the very beginning, the
therapeutic model has a number of integrated services for survivors of domestic
violence. In that way, we will be much better placed to break the cycle of
domestic violence and ensure that survivors and their children are able to move
on, after having been provided with some safety by the refuge, to live happy,
fulfilling and, importantly, safe lives.
understand the extent of the work that is done in refuges around the state. I acknowledge
that there is an increasing understanding in Australia, particularly in Western
Australia, that we have a problem with domestic violence, and I think there is
a commitment across all parties to do something about that. How do we intervene
effectively for victims and survivors of domestic violence, who are often women
with children? How do we intervene effectively and make sure that services are
best placed to deal with the complex issues surrounding domestic violence?
Sadly, many victims of domestic violence also experience mental health issues,
drug and alcohol abuse, financial challenges and the like, and that is why in planning
for the new refuge in Peel, we are looking to co-locate a number of services to
make sure that the fundamentals are right in a therapeutic approach for people
who need assistance at that refuge. We know that we have very good services
around the state for mental health assistance, drug and alcohol abuse and the
like, but we often struggle to co-locate them and make sure that we surround
those vulnerable people when they need it and not expect them to traverse their
way through different services because they do not. They do not make their way
through those services but fall through the cracks and the cycle of
disadvantage is repeated. We have consulted with the sector about the new
refuge in Peel. We have looked at best practice around the country and the
world and we are looking to ensure that from the very beginning, the
therapeutic model has a number of integrated services for survivors of domestic
violence. In that way, we will be much better placed to break the cycle of
domestic violence and ensure that survivors and their children are able to move
on, after having been provided with some safety by the refuge, to live happy,
fulfilling and, importantly, safe lives.
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