A $20 million bipartisan Federal commitment has been announced to fund the delivery of a Domestic Violence Women’s and Children’s Trauma Centre on the Central Coast, in response to a proposal by Pacific Link Housing and the Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre, following extensive advocacy efforts across the sector.
Once operational, this Centre of Excellence will deliver a crisis housing solution, combined with on-site specialist support for the recovery from domestic and family violence for women and children. The Centre will provide an integrated delivery of wrap-around support to women and children helping to break the intergenerational cycle of violence by acknowledging children as victims within their own right and providing the appropriate supports for them to recover and heal.
The funding will also see 13 medium-term transitional housing units become available, with additional surplus land included on the site, providing Pacific Link Housing with further opportunity for the future development of affordable rental accommodation.
The Central Coast experiences high rates of domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV), with 1,792 domestic
violence-related assaults recorded between October 2023 and September 2024.
After receiving funding for the Centre, the organisations will co-design a trauma-informed model with learnings from women with lived expertise, professional experts and other specialist domestic violence (DV) service providers to ensure this fit-for-purpose Centre provides the support, healing and recovery for the women and children it is designed to serve.
The Hon. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“We must end the scourge of violence against women.
“We know we have a great deal more work to do and we cannot be satisfied until the violence stops.
“Investing in centres like this is crucial, so women know they have a safe place to go.
“This builds on what we’re already delivering – more than $4 billion in our National Plan, 33 new shelters for women and children, bringing together states and territories, as well new approaches to target perpetrators and early intervention to stop violence.”
The Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Peter Dutton MP said this announcement highlighted his personal commitment to address family and domestic violence in Australia.
“As a former police officer who attended numerous domestic violence call-outs, I know the trauma and lifelong impacts that can occur as a result of these horrific crimes.
A Government I lead will be focussed on delivering real change so that families, women and children are safer and we work toward reducing the impact of family and domestic violence.”
Ian Lynch, Group CEO of Pacific Link Housing, said:
“The unfortunate fact is that we should not require funding for this project, because domestic and family violence should not exist in this country. However, the alarming statistics demand an immediate and drastic response. While this Centre addresses the critical need for post-trauma care, we remain hopeful that there will also be funding announcements of greater proportions for prevention and education efforts in the future.”
“While this funding announcement is focused on the Domestic Violence Trauma Recovery Centre, we are pleased that the funding also addresses the urgent need for safe housing solutions. Some accommodation will be immediately available, while others will require further funding for construction to become operational.”
“We are motivated by the needs of the Central Coast community and our partner organisations. Our mission is to provide safe, secure and affordable homes for those in need, and in this instance, for women and children in our community.”
“Community Housing Providers are uniquely equipped to bring together possibilities that benefit local communities. Pacific Link Housing is incredibly proud to be doing just that with the Central Coast Women’s and Children’s Trauma Recovery Centre in partnership with the Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre.”
Sara Foster, CEO of Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre, said:
“Domestic violence on the Central Coast is a whole-of-community crisis that can no longer be ignored. Our local services are at breaking point and we know that women and children in our community are not receiving the critical wrap-around supports that are essential to breaking these cycles of violence and assisting in their long-term healing and recovery.
“Funding for a trauma recovery centre is a win for the Coast but makes it more important than ever for investment in specialist DV service providers to adequately support and nurture the women and children accessing these services.
“This funding is the result of ongoing advocacy from multiple organisations and as a sector we are strongest when we work together on behalf of women and children everywhere. By investing in the safety, health and healing of women and their children, we address the impacts of trauma and work toward breaking pervasive cycles of violence and abuse.