❓ Hon. Linda Savage questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding dedicated child caseworkers in women's refuges. The Minister responds by highlighting existing services and funding, but doesn't commit to a dedicated program.
AnsweredQoN 1016Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE REFUGE SERVICES —
RESOURCING
1016. Hon
LINDA SAVAGE to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Western Australian Council of Social Service
pre-budget submission ''Stronger Together'', and in particular
the 2013–14 budget recommendations for children, young people and
families concerning family and domestic violence services that —
Adequate resourcing of services
for families in crisis, and living with or escaping from family and domestic
violence is essential. The Council is particularly concerned by the lack of
appropriate support services for children of parents escaping domestic
violence. To this end, we are calling on the State Government to consider a
dedicated program to ensure the provision of child case workers in women's
refuges and safe houses.
Will the minister commit to providing a dedicated program to
ensure the provision of child caseworkers in women's refuges and safe
houses; and, if not, why not?
RESOURCING
1016. Hon
LINDA SAVAGE to the Minister for Child Protection:
I refer to the Western Australian Council of Social Service
pre-budget submission ''Stronger Together'', and in particular
the 2013–14 budget recommendations for children, young people and
families concerning family and domestic violence services that —
Adequate resourcing of services
for families in crisis, and living with or escaping from family and domestic
violence is essential. The Council is particularly concerned by the lack of
appropriate support services for children of parents escaping domestic
violence. To this end, we are calling on the State Government to consider a
dedicated program to ensure the provision of child case workers in women's
refuges and safe houses.
Will the minister commit to providing a dedicated program to
ensure the provision of child caseworkers in women's refuges and safe
houses; and, if not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
Existing contracts for domestic
violence refuges funded by the Department for Child Protection are provided
with flexibility that enables refuges to provide services based on the needs of
their client base, which includes the provision of services for children. The
Department for Child Protection has senior child protection workers co-located
with WA Police in 17 districts statewide to combat family and domestic
violence. The aim of co-location is a collaborative response to child abuse where
family and domestic violence occurs to identify children and young people at
risk. Refuges work closely with Department for Child Protection officers,
police and other services to ensure the safety and wellbeing of women and
children.
In 2012–13 the department
will provide $23 million for specialist family and domestic violence
accommodation and support services. Of that $23 million, $19 857 299 will be
used to specifically fund 37 accommodation services—refuges—throughout
WA for women and children escaping domestic and family violence who seek crisis
accommodation and support. During this term of government, we have opened two
new refuges and are in negotiations to open a new refuge in Busselton in the
coming months.
Existing contracts for domestic
violence refuges funded by the Department for Child Protection are provided
with flexibility that enables refuges to provide services based on the needs of
their client base, which includes the provision of services for children. The
Department for Child Protection has senior child protection workers co-located
with WA Police in 17 districts statewide to combat family and domestic
violence. The aim of co-location is a collaborative response to child abuse where
family and domestic violence occurs to identify children and young people at
risk. Refuges work closely with Department for Child Protection officers,
police and other services to ensure the safety and wellbeing of women and
children.
In 2012–13 the department
will provide $23 million for specialist family and domestic violence
accommodation and support services. Of that $23 million, $19 857 299 will be
used to specifically fund 37 accommodation services—refuges—throughout
WA for women and children escaping domestic and family violence who seek crisis
accommodation and support. During this term of government, we have opened two
new refuges and are in negotiations to open a new refuge in Busselton in the
coming months.
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