New shelter strengthens DV support network

A new women’s shelter has opened in Yarrabah, east of Cairns, as the Queensland Government continues its campaign to end domestic and family violence.

Minister for Housing and Public Works Leeanne Enoch said the five-bed shelter would provide safe, temporary accommodation and support for women and children in the Far North Queensland community.

The shelter will be managed by the Yarrabah Aboriginal Corporation for Women.

“The Queensland Government has committed to implementing all 140 recommendations of the Not Now, Not Ever report into family and domestic violence,” Ms Enoch said.

“This report underlined how important supported accommodation and support for victims of violence are, and the Yarrabah Women’s Shelter is a significant investment to this end.”

In addition to the $868,000 construction investment, the Palaszczuk Government will provide nearly $394,000 a year for the next three years to fund support services at the facility.

Treasurer and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt said the Yarrabah shelter had been a priority since 2011 when he was previously Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.

“In 2011 I committed $800,000 for this shelter and construction was due for completion at the end of 2012,” Mr Pitt said.

"Almost three years later I’m very pleased to see that it's finally here to provide a safe place for women and children in Yarrabah to go in times of family crisis.

“I want to thank the Yarrabah Women’s Group for their tireless advocacy and for all that they do in our local community.

“Indigenous women are 35 times more likely than non-Indigenous women to be hospitalised for spousal or domestic partner assaults, that’s a horrific statistic we have to combat.”

Minister Enoch said the Queensland Government’s domestic violence reforms were the most comprehensive in the state’s history.

“Queensland looks forward to the day facilities like the Yarrabah Women’s Shelter are no longer needed,” Ms Enoch said.

“Domestic violence has no place in our community, and it is up to all of us to drive the change in attitudes and behaviour needed to eradicate it.”

The Government is seeking input on the draft Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Strategy, which closes on 16 November.

For more information about the Government’s work to tackle domestic and family violence visit:

www.communities.qld.gov.au/gateway/end-domestic-and-family-violence

Media contact: Daniel Lato 0418 674700