❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Child Protection regarding the Safe at Home program's capacity to meet demand and requests increased funding. The Minister acknowledges the program's limitations but highlights other government initiatives.
AnsweredQoN 489Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE — SAFE AT HOME PROGRAM
I refer to the caseload capacity for the family and domestic violence Safe at Home program in regional and metropolitan WA. (1) Is the minister aware that eligible referrals from police and other agencies significantly outnumber the case capacity of the program and that services are either closing referrals, turning away eligible cases or having to take on only the most extreme in need? (2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
I refer to the caseload capacity for the family and domestic violence Safe at Home program in regional and metropolitan WA. (1) Is the minister aware that eligible referrals from police and other agencies significantly outnumber the case capacity of the program and that services are either closing referrals, turning away eligible cases or having to take on only the most extreme in need? (2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(1) Is the minister aware that eligible referrals from police and other agencies significantly outnumber the case capacity of the program and that services are either closing referrals, turning away eligible cases or having to take on only the most extreme in need? (2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(1) Is the minister aware that eligible referrals from police and other agencies significantly outnumber the case capacity of the program and that services are either closing referrals, turning away eligible cases or having to take on only the most extreme in need? (2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(2) Given the importance of children in particular being able to stay in their own homes, schools and community, will the minister commit to increasing the allocation to Safe at Home? Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
Hon ROBYN McSWEENEY replied: (1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
(1)–(2) Safe at Home is a new program set up under this government to give women relief from leaving their homes and taking their children with them. We case manage those women; we change the locks on their homes and make their homes safe when it is safe to do so, so that they can stay at home rather than have to go to a refuge. While I am aware that more women are coming forward than cases are allowed for, I am monitoring that at the moment. I am aware that there are more women than case capacity. Having said that, this government has put child protection workers in police stations. There are 17 regional domestic violence case management workers and we are doing a great deal to help women and children in the community through our programs. If women are experiencing problems, they can go to the Department for Child Protection and receive assistance.
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