Four-unit facility due by December
A new women’s shelter for women and children escaping domestic violence is to be built in Mona Vale.
The news was revealed after Wakehurst MP Michael Regan asked a question in Parliament of Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Jodie Harrison.
Ms Harrison replied that four self-contained units were planned for Mona Vale, with an expected completion date of December. The facility will be run by Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) in partnership with Bridge Housing, a tier-one community housing provider, the minister said. It will be funded under the State Government’s new approach to shelters, called the Core and Cluster program.
Under the Core and Cluster model, self-contained accommodation is located next to a ‘core,’ which provides access to services such as counselling, legal assistance, education and employment support.
There were 267 incidents of domestic violence related assaults reported on the Northern Beaches in 2022, a slight drop from 296 in 2021, according to the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOSCAR). The overall State figures showed an increase in reported incidents of domestic violence, from 32,125 in 2021, to 33,410 in 2022.
Mr Regan, a long-time advocate on this issue, said it was a ‘sad reality’ that shelters were needed. “And worse -expanding because of demand.”
“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,” the Wakehurst MP said.
“The sooner we end domestic violence the better. That must always be our goal.”
The Mona Vale shelter will be one of the first new refuges delivered under the NSW Government’s $484 million investment for housing and specialist support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence.
If you or someone you know is in a domestic violence situation, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 or 1800RESPECT.