New Shelter to save lives across the Gold Coast

One of two new Domestic and Family Violence shelters funded in the State Budget will be located on the Gold Coast.

The Palaszczuk Government has committed $6.8 million in new funding in this year's Budget to establish and run two new specialist domestic violence shelters across south-east Queensland.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Shannon Fentiman said the new shelter would make a difference in an area of high demand.

“Police statistics tell us that across the Gold Coast in the last 12 months there has been an increase in assaults of 27 per cent and an increase in breaches of DV Orders of 36 per cent,” Ms Fentiman said.

 “It is a brave decision women make when they leave a violent relationship and it is vitally important that we have services ready to help them when they do.”

“We are seeing the continued demand for safe accommodation and support for women and children at serious risk of violence, often fuelled by the use of ice.”

“The new shelter in this region will provide women and children with a safe place while we help them to secure longer term accommodation.”

“The shelters we have already established in Brisbane and Townsville have helped hundreds of women find safety, and that is why we are rolling out more.”

“These shelters literally save lives and give women and children in dangerous situations a chance to escape the horrors of domestic abuse and find safety.

“We have brought the domestic violence issue out of the shadows and as a result more and more women are coming forward for help.”

“Our Government is the first in 20 years to establish shelters to help save the lives of woman and children in crisis,” Ms Fentiman said.

Ms Fentiman said the Government was also investing in domestic violence prevention through respectful relationships education to help change the attitudes that underpin violence.

“We know that if we are to have any success in challenging the attitudes and behaviours that feed the cycle of violence, then we have to start with our young people. That’s why the Government started airing, just this week, a state wide campaign against violence targeting young people,” Ms Fentiman said.

And in January 2016, the Gold Coast Police DFV Taskforce was established which has a strong focus on prevention. The taskforce partners with local domestic and family violence services to proactively monitor high risk offenders and provide additional support to women in need of protection.

The Palaszczuk Government has continued to invest in Domestic and Family Violence prevention and support programs, including: 

• To make the Southport specialist domestic violence court permanent after a successful trial;
• $10.3 million over four years for additional perpetrator interventions;
• Continued investment of $8.2 million over four years to establish new High Risk Teams to tackle domestic and family violence; and
• $43.1 million over four years for counselling and support services for victims, children and young people, court based support, and sexual assault services

ENDS

Media Contact: Ron Goodman         0428 744 749