After domestic violence hit ‘staggering levels’ during the COVID-19 pandemic, Peninsula Living investigates the current landscape of local support and what assistance may look like into the future.
It was recently announced that the NSW Government would provide a $20 million funding boost to help victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence.
Northern Beaches local and Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Natalie Ward, says this new funding will provide additional support to specialist front-line services across the state, as well as allow for the trial of new innovative programs.
“Over half of the funding is for services that directly assist victim-survivors, giving them the help they need to recover from their traumatic experiences and start a new chapter in their lives,” Minister Ward said.
But how will this benefit the Northern Beaches?
Member for Manly, James Griffin, says there is a ‘record level of funding available’, and he is in regular discussion with Minister Ward to advocate for an increase in funding for local services.
“A bid has been submitted to secure this funding for the Northern Beaches. The NSW Government is currently reviewing the funding requests,” Mr Griffin told Peninsula Living.
Despite this, Simone Allan, founder and director of the Northern Beaches-based Women’s Resilience Centre (WRC), says that, so far, the majority of the organisation’s funding has come from the community.
Founded in 2020, the WRC is a not-for-profit that relies on the goodwill of the community to assist with its operations.
“The Women’s Resilience Centre opens its first hub in Mona Vale this November,” Simone says.
“We have been providing services online and now we can offer face-to-face financial resilience programs, a trauma-sensitive and supportive community, and mentoring to assist with job seeking, housing, parenting, and trauma support, helping women to reset their lives and open up new positive pathways forward.”
According to Simone, NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics figures indicate there are over 150 domestic violence incidents reported each month to the Northern Beaches Police Area Command.
The Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter (NBWS), formerly known as the Manly Women’s Shelter, is another essential service here on the Northern Beaches.
The non-profit, community-funded charitable organisation provides crisis accommodation, support, safety, and services for homeless women across the Peninsula.
The organisation says 40 per cent of women who seek out its services do so for domestic violence reasons. Other reasons include mental health, financial hardship, and for drug and alcohol-related reasons.
Peninsula Living spoke with Kirstie Christensen, fundraising and communications manager at NBWS, who said the service is reporting high levels of referrals for victims needing accommodation.
Ms Christensen says the service provider is being forced to turn away some women in need of help due to a lack of accommodation.
“Our service has also seen an increase in women needing outreach support and there is also a lack of direct service support for men experiencing domestic violence in the region,” Ms Christensen said.
“The Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network has 29 member services who work closely to ensure we provide wrap-around support, so if we cannot provide the support then we find another service who can.
“But the level of need is beyond the level of service capacity.”
A Northern Beaches Council spokesperson said that while domestic violence support and accommodation is the responsibility of the State Government, Council does work closely with the Northern Beaches Domestic Violence Network.
At a recent meeting, the Council resolved to provide a letter of support for NBWS, who will be lodging an expression of interest for grant funding with the NSW Government to help purchase a property to provide additional crisis accommodation.
Council is also investigating the feasibility of redeveloping a Council-owned site to assist the Women and Children First refuge (formerly the Manly Warringah Women’s Resource Centre) by providing alternative accommodation for clients. A report on this will be considered in the coming months.
“Family violence takes many forms and is far more prevalent here on the Northern Beaches than most people think,” Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said.
“There is not enough accommodation locally for those fleeing violent situations, which is why we continue to lobby the State Government for the additional funding to create more. Council will also continue to support our local services to attract more funding and see what else we can do to provide assistance.”
In a show of such support, the Northern Beaches Annual Business Breakfast Fundraiser will once again take place on 18 November.
”We can offer face-to-face financial resilience programs, a trauma-sensitive and supportive community, and mentoring…”
Simone Allan,
Women’s Resilience Centre
Run by The Salvation Army, Lifeline Northern Beaches and The Rotary Club of Dee Why/Warringah, the event will include guest speeches by NSW Minister for Families and Communities, Natalie McLaren-Jones, and Northern Beaches Policer Commander, superintendent Patrick Sharkey.
There will also be a Q&A session with Lifeline Northern Beaches, The Salvation Army, Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter, and Relationships Australia.
To find out more information or to attend, visit the ‘Northern Beaches Annual Fundraiser – Family Domestic Violence’ page on Humanitix.