Funding for women's shelter - Northern Beaches Advocate

Funding has been confirmed for a women’s shelter at Mona Vale.

The confirmation of funding came in response to a question asked by Member for Wakehurst Michael Regan (main image) in the NSW Parliament yesterday morning (Thursday, 22 June).

Mr Regan used question time to ask Minister for Women, Seniors, Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison if any funding had been allocated to the Northern Beaches under the second round of a $484m ‘Core and Cluster’ program announced by the previous NSW Government.

Minister Harrison acknowledged Mr Regan’s interest in the issue dated back to his capacity as Mayor of Northern Beaches Council, having written to her about domestic and family violence.

Jodie Harrison

“No community in this State is free from domestic violence, and the beautiful Northern Beaches of Sydney are no exception. The Core and Cluster model moves away from the traditional shared‑living style of accommodation. It offers more flexible, private and independent living spaces, giving more dignity to women and children and in some cases to their beloved pets.

“Importantly, the Core and Cluster model is, by its very nature, a community place based approach to safety for women and children. The Department of Communities and Justice [DCJ] is currently working through the contract negotiations for the successful Tranche 2 tenderers.

“At this stage, contract negotiations for those 39 sites are in varying stages of completion. I look forward to sharing more information with local communities as those negotiations progress and are finalised.

“Having said that, I am very pleased to be able to share with the member for Wakehurst that one of the projects that was successful in receiving funding through Tranche 2 of the Core and Cluster procurement will serve women and children on the Northern Beaches. Located in Mona Vale, the Core and Cluster is led by Women’s Community Shelters.

“It is being done in partnership with Bridge Housing, which is a tier 1 community housing provider, which I am sure the member for Wakehurst is familiar with. I am advised by DCJ that building design and development application processes are currently underway and that capital works are planned for completion by December this year, with the expectation of service delivery to follow shortly thereafter.

“I am pleased also to say that on completion it will offer four self-contained units for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, importantly with services and supports delivered by Women’s Community Shelters,” advised Minister Harrison.

Mr Regan (image above) expressed delight following the announcement, having initially contacted the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter about a property that may be suitable for a shelter in Pittwater. It is that shelter which has now been announced as receiving the funding.

“I am incredibly pleased the NSW Government has today confirmed that a new women’s shelter will be established on the Northern Beaches. The project, confirmed following a question I asked during question time today, will help deliver four new self-contained units for women and children escaping domestic and family violence on the Northern Beaches.

“Work on the new self-contained units, to be located in Pittwater and funded under the Core and Cluster program, is expected to be complete in December this year with the units to be operational soon after.

“Domestic and family violence ruins lives and I am committed to fighting for services to support women and children in these shocking circumstances in Wakehurst, the Northern Beaches and across the state.

“I want to thank the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter, especially Manager Narelle Hand and Chair Rosy Sullivan, for all their work providing support services to women and children suffering domestic and family violence and their sustained advocacy to expand the capacity of support services on the Northern Beaches. This local organisation was one of the applicants for this project.

“In making the announcement, I also welcome comments made by the Minister for Women, Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison MP, who reiterated the Minns Government’s support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence in Wakehurst and on the Northern Beaches.

“In my 15 years as Mayor of Northern Beaches Council, I worked hard to expand women’s refuges and services for women fleeing domestic and family violence on the Northern Beaches and commit to continuing to do so as the Independent MP for Wakehurst.

“It’s a sad reality that these services and facilities are required and worse, expanding because of the demand. Tranche 3 applications will close soon, and I am working closely with another local provider to increase capacity for crisis accommodation. The sooner we end domestic violence the better. That must always be our goal,” said Mr Regan.

Chair of the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter Rosy Sullivan (image above) said the new shelter would allow them to take in women with children, which they were unable to do previously.

Ms Sullivan said the funding would assist with renovations necessary to meet the requirements of the Core and Cluster program model.

“After 13 years of providing services to women without custodial care of their children, this is an exciting advancement in the future to be able to provide for women who have custodial care of their children, so they can recover and heal as a family unit.

“We are currently turning away 15 women per month, we’ll be able to address some of that need. We have some people in the property now. It’s a beautiful property but it doesn’t meet Core and Cluster requirements at the moment,” said Ms Sullivan.

According to Ms Sullivan, the plans for the renovation to meet the Core and Cluster requirements have been completed and the process for Council approval is now underway.

Pittwater MP Rory Amon, whose electorate the new shelter is located in, echoed support for the funding announced yesterday by Minister Harrison.

Rory Amon

“In my former role as a family lawyer, I had first-hand experience with the devastating impact of family breakdown and domestic violence. Women in particular can find themselves thrown into a crisis situation during a relationship breakdown.

“I am very pleased to see this shelter, which is in the Pittwater electorate, has been given funding under a program started by the previous Liberal Government,” said Mr Amon.

Images: Northern Beaches Advocate