$340,000 for Doomadgee Women's Shelter

Women fleeing domestic and family violence in Doomadgee will have a safe place to go with more than $340,000 secured to continue operating the Doomadgee Women’s Shelter.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said the Doomadgee Council owned shelter would be operated by North West Queensland Indigenous Catholic Social Services (NWQICSS) for the next year.

“NWQICSS will work with local stakeholders, drawing on the strengths of community and culture, to develop the best way to delivery this important service to Doomadgee community,” she said.

“The Doomadgee Women’s Shelter is not only a safe place for women and children to stay to escape domestic and family violence.

“NWQICSS is looking at ways the shelter can be used to support women in other ways, by using the shelter as a safe women’s place where women can meet, take part in activities or access information and support.”

Ministerial Champion for Doomadgee Coralee O’Rourke said NWQICSS had ensured the community had a voice in decision making around the shelter, by including the newly established Doomadgee Strong Women’s Group in discussions around the shelter and how it could best be used to support women in community.

“We are absolutely committed to working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities,” Mrs O’Rourke said.

“These services must be delivered in a way which is culturally safe and responsive to the needs of the community, and the only way to do that is to make sure the community has a voice in designing the way the service will be delivered.

“The service has taken on workers from the local community, and the shelter is being freshened-up to create a more welcoming safe place for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence in Doomadgee.

“Importantly access to the shelter will be available 24 hours per day, seven days per week.”

Ms Farmer said the Queensland Government was committed to providing the most appropriate services to support women and their families who were fleeing domestic and violence.

“There is still a lot of work to do but I am committed to working hard every day to help break the cycle of violence and provide ongoing support in Doomadgee and right throughout Queensland,” she said.

ENDS

Media contact: Cat Milton 0447 117 132