A federal funding announcement aimed at alleviating some of the issues faced by victims of domestic violence has been welcomed by Wagga’s crisis support workers.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer on Monday to pledge $78million towards national family violence measures.
Though, Wagga Women’s Health Clinic worker Julie Mecham has vowed to reserve her full judgement until the money comes into actuality in the Riverina.
“If it reaches Wagga, it will definitely make a difference, because as it is our resources are stretched to the limit,” Ms Mecham said.
“Anything that recognises the needs of women in these dangerous situations is money well spent, but it needs to go to the areas that most need it to make the most difference.”
But this latest federal push represents the fourth initiative to address domestic violence in the past decade.
"There’s no point in saying, this [funding] isn’t good enough when there is such a need for it," said Ms Mecham.
"Every little bit does go a long way to help."
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Of the total package offered this time, $60million will be allocated to organisations to improve the nation's emergency housing infrastructure.
An additional 450 facilities of this variety are slated for construction across Australia.
On average each year, 6500 people access the nation’s existing short-term housing services.
“Here in Wagga, unfortunately, our numbers are continuing to grow,” said Ms Mecham.
“More and more women are finding themselves in need of this type of housing, and at times there’s just not enough to go around.”
Last year, up to 86 per cent of the women who came to the Women’s Health Centre had experienced family violence.
Meanwhile, the centre provided up to 4000 occasions of service in the same time period, which is a jump of about 500 from last year.
Especially in rural and regional areas, the situation becomes even dire.
“For people living outside Wagga, sometimes the next available refuge is hundreds of kilometres away,” said Ms Mecham.
“That opens up all sorts of problems, like access to transport. Many of these women are escaping physical and financial abuse, they often cannot afford to travel that far.
“If they can, navigating the bus system can be potentially dangerous in smaller town, they might be recognised by people who know them or are related to their abuser, and can report back to them on their movements.”
The remaining $18million of federal money will go towards improving in-home security, primarily for women and children, to allow those at risk to continue living in their family home.
A similar program in 2015/16, dubbed the ‘Keeping Women Safer’ initiative, provided security services to 5200 houses across the nation.
This new funding is expected to be added to the existing.
“Additional services means that you can help more women," Ms Mecham said.
“We have to keep talking about it, pushing for a non-violent society, and discussing how we can make a meaningful and lasting behavioural change in our communities," said Ms Mecham.