Domestic violence services boosted at the Whitsundays

Domestic violence services providing support for women and children fleeing violence in the Whitsundays have been boosted to ensure the enhanced delivery of family counselling.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the Whitsunday Crisis and Counselling Service Inc will receive an additional $328,890 over five years to deliver tailored domestic and family violence counselling.

Ms Fentiman visited the centre on Monday during the Palaszczuk Government’s Whitsunday Community Cabinet visit to the region.

“The Whitsunday Crisis and Counselling Service already deliver great services for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence, including family counselling and court support, sexual violence support and specialist homelessness services,” Ms Fentiman said.

“Already in the past year, the service had 870 users through its doors who were provided a total of 2266 hours of counselling or court support.

“This additional funding will assist this wonderful organisation to enhance its response to victims of domestic and family violence and meet the increasing community demand for support.”

CEO Steve Alexander said the new program will provide an extra 560 hours of counselling support every year.

“Whitsunday Crisis & Counselling Service Inc. would like to thank the Queensland Government for acknowledging the demands placed on our service, in particular, for clients escaping or dealing with domestic & family violence issues,” he said.

“The additional funding for this programme, providing an extra 560 hours of counselling support per year, is a massive step in the right direction, and will assist our service to meet client demands

“The renewal of our domestic & family violence & sexual violence service agreements until 2021, gives our organisation sustainability, enabling us to strategically plan for improved client outcomes, meeting with the vision & ethos of Whitsunday Crisis & Counselling Service Inc.”

The new funding is in addition to $1.2 million provided to Whitsunday Crisis and Counselling Service each year.

The Palaszczuk Government annuonced in the 2016-17 State Budget it is spending a record $198.2 million to deliver domestic and family violence support across Queensland.

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