❓ Ms. HAMMAT asks about the expansion of family and domestic violence one-stop hubs and their impact on victim-survivors. The Minister outlines funding for existing hubs and plans for new ones, highlighting their role in providing accessible and culturally sensitive support.
AnsweredQoN 341Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — ONE-STOP
HUBS
341. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting victim–survivors of
family and domestic violence.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the expansion of family and domestic violence
one-stop hubs will allow victim–survivors to seek help, assistance and
support in one location?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the hubs are helping to keep Western Australian
women and their children safe?
HUBS
341. Ms M.J. HAMMAT to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I refer to the McGowan Labor
government's commitment to supporting victim–survivors of
family and domestic violence.
(1) Can the
minister outline to the house how the expansion of family and domestic violence
one-stop hubs will allow victim–survivors to seek help, assistance and
support in one location?
(2) Can the
minister advise the house how the hubs are helping to keep Western Australian
women and their children safe?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Mirrabooka
for the question. I want to acknowledge her strong advocacy and connection with
her community. She truly is a member that knows her community well and
advocates strongly for the services that her community requires to live
wonderful lives out in that part of the world.
(1)–(2) It
was great last month to be with the member for Mirrabooka in Mirrabooka at the
Naala Djookan Healing Centre to announce, as part of the 2023–24 state
budget, $13.4 million to continue funding both the Mirrabooka hub and the
Kalgoorlie hub. I know the member for Kalgoorlie has received great feedback about that announcement. Importantly, that $13.4 million
means that those two hubs have funding u ntil June 2027, which is a significant
investment and provides confidence about that service being provided in those
communities.
We know that the hub model introduced
by the McGowan government, a first for WA, works because it connects victim–survivors of family and
domestic violence with a range of services in the one place. Many members would know that one of the hardest things to do when you are a victim
of family and domestic violence is to actually reach out. That is one of the
hardest things to do and, in fact, one of the most dangerous times is when a woman
reaches out to seek help. We have learnt that part of the problem with that is
that victims have to constantly retell their story again and again as they seek
out various services. This hub model works to stop that from happening and to
provide a trusted, safe environment in which victim–survivors can go
for a range of services they require to get their lives on track—services
such as financial counselling, family and parenting support, creches, referrals
to refuge accommodation, mental health support and also supports for legal
counselling.
I
am happy to let the house know that the hubs in Mirrabooka and Kalgoorlie have
helped over 1 200 women since opening in 2020. At Naala Djookan, 629 women
have been helped for family and domestic violence, and, importantly, a further
183 women at Mirrabooka have accessed soft-entry service. It is important that
these hubs are not used solely as family and domestic violence services, but
that they provide that soft-entry service—what I referred to earlier as
a safe place—where they can seek help when they first start to come to
that realisation that things are not right in their relationship. It means that
we are able to support women earlier to prevent family and domestic violence
from escalating.
It was really great to talk to the
City of Stirling and the other service providers in Mirrabooka. The
overwhelming feedback from victim–survivors who have used the services
is that they are experiencing increased feelings of safety and choice and had
timely access to the services, and, most importantly, cultural respect.
This
budget also provides $16.3 million to establish a new one-stop hub in Broome,
which will also provide services to Derby and Bidyadanga. All in all,
our election commitment to one-stop hubs is an investment of over $64 million.
The service providers in Armadale have been chosen. Hope Community Service and
Yorgum Healing Services will be running the hub in Armadale. I know that the
fit-out is happening at the moment, and we look forward to Armadale and Broome
hubs opening very soon—next year.
I
finish by emphasising again the McGowan government's strong commitment
to the prevention of domestic violence since we have been in government,
with over $200 million of targeted investment based on evidence and based on
stakeholder engagement and feedback. This year's budget alone sees
$52.5 million invested into this important area.
The SPEAKER : The member for
Central Wheatbelt with the last question.
for the question. I want to acknowledge her strong advocacy and connection with
her community. She truly is a member that knows her community well and
advocates strongly for the services that her community requires to live
wonderful lives out in that part of the world.
(1)–(2) It
was great last month to be with the member for Mirrabooka in Mirrabooka at the
Naala Djookan Healing Centre to announce, as part of the 2023–24 state
budget, $13.4 million to continue funding both the Mirrabooka hub and the
Kalgoorlie hub. I know the member for Kalgoorlie has received great feedback about that announcement. Importantly, that $13.4 million
means that those two hubs have funding u ntil June 2027, which is a significant
investment and provides confidence about that service being provided in those
communities.
We know that the hub model introduced
by the McGowan government, a first for WA, works because it connects victim–survivors of family and
domestic violence with a range of services in the one place. Many members would know that one of the hardest things to do when you are a victim
of family and domestic violence is to actually reach out. That is one of the
hardest things to do and, in fact, one of the most dangerous times is when a woman
reaches out to seek help. We have learnt that part of the problem with that is
that victims have to constantly retell their story again and again as they seek
out various services. This hub model works to stop that from happening and to
provide a trusted, safe environment in which victim–survivors can go
for a range of services they require to get their lives on track—services
such as financial counselling, family and parenting support, creches, referrals
to refuge accommodation, mental health support and also supports for legal
counselling.
I
am happy to let the house know that the hubs in Mirrabooka and Kalgoorlie have
helped over 1 200 women since opening in 2020. At Naala Djookan, 629 women
have been helped for family and domestic violence, and, importantly, a further
183 women at Mirrabooka have accessed soft-entry service. It is important that
these hubs are not used solely as family and domestic violence services, but
that they provide that soft-entry service—what I referred to earlier as
a safe place—where they can seek help when they first start to come to
that realisation that things are not right in their relationship. It means that
we are able to support women earlier to prevent family and domestic violence
from escalating.
It was really great to talk to the
City of Stirling and the other service providers in Mirrabooka. The
overwhelming feedback from victim–survivors who have used the services
is that they are experiencing increased feelings of safety and choice and had
timely access to the services, and, most importantly, cultural respect.
This
budget also provides $16.3 million to establish a new one-stop hub in Broome,
which will also provide services to Derby and Bidyadanga. All in all,
our election commitment to one-stop hubs is an investment of over $64 million.
The service providers in Armadale have been chosen. Hope Community Service and
Yorgum Healing Services will be running the hub in Armadale. I know that the
fit-out is happening at the moment, and we look forward to Armadale and Broome
hubs opening very soon—next year.
I
finish by emphasising again the McGowan government's strong commitment
to the prevention of domestic violence since we have been in government,
with over $200 million of targeted investment based on evidence and based on
stakeholder engagement and feedback. This year's budget alone sees
$52.5 million invested into this important area.
The SPEAKER : The member for
Central Wheatbelt with the last question.
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