Cherbourg’s Safe Haven service to protect children from violence

A Safe Haven service will be established in Cherbourg to protect young people from domestic and family violence.

Communities Minister Warren Pitt said the Safe Haven initiative would provide short-term help for young people who were under immediate threat of domestic and family violence.

“Children are far too often the forgotten victims of domestic and family violence,” Mr Pitt said.

“At times, they need to be protected in an environment where they feel safe and are cared for. The Safe Haven service will provide such an environment.”

Mr Pitt said the Cherbourg community had been working hard to introduce the Safe Haven project.

“They recognise, however, that a large project such as this will take time,” he said.

“This interim service will be able to focus fulltime on Safe Haven initiatives while the permanent service is developed.”

Organisations are being invited to apply for funding to provide domestic and family violence support such as case management, capacity building, organisation of night patrols, family support and parenting counselling, and youth engagement and support.

The Safe Haven initiative is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments.

Applications close at 4pm on Monday, 5 March 2007. An information session will be held in Cherbourg on 31 January 2007.

Organisations wanting to find out more about Safe Haven Funding should contact:
Sue Domic, Cherbourg Youth Justice Service, 0428 114 389 or 4169 5989

Media contact: Peter Nibbs 3235 4280