A new domestic violence prevention and recovery hub will begin operating in Adelaide's northern suburbs from next month.
The Northern Multi-Agency Hub will be led by Women's Safety Services SA and South Australian Police, providing a collaborative response to domestic violence early intervention, recovery and prevention.
Located in the northern suburbs, the Northern Hub will provide services to women and families in the Playford, Salisbury, Gawler, Barossa, Light and Mallala regions.
The new Northern Hub will be accessible by referral or appointment only, with most referrals expected to come through the DV Crisis Line, SAPOL, the DV Disclosure Scheme, and Women's Safety Services SA outreach programs.
The northern hub's unique service model aims to improve services to victim-survivors and families through increased collaboration. Services available will include:
- Immediate safety responses and safety management strategies
- Accommodation (emergency and medium term)
- The Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme
- Access to onsite police services for taking reports, statements and intervention order applications and variations.
The establishment of a Northern Hub provides an opportunity for increased collaboration with key service providers such as legal, health and financial services to provide a streamlined service response for women and children who have been subjected to domestic and family violence.
The establishment of the Northern Hub is an election commitment of the Malinauskas Government, with $1 million over two years allocated to establish prevention and recovery hubs in the south and north of Adelaide to support women experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence, as well as to help increase community awareness.
The Southern Hub, known as The Yellow Gate was launched last December.
The establishment of the hubs is also supported by the Commonwealth Government's commitment to help fund frontline and community sector workers to build the capacity of the sector, with two new workers to be allocated to the new Northern Hub.
If you need assistance, please contact South Australia's state-wide DV Crisis Line on 1800 800 098. You can also contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) or text 0458 737 732 for immediate support.
As put by Katrine Hildyard
We are determined to do all that we can to help prevent the horrific scourge of domestic violence. To help do so, the Malinauskas Labor Government is implementing policy, service and legislative change across the four domains of prevention, intervention, response and recovery and healing.
This Northern Hub is a core part of our Government's commitment to helping ensure women can access early and co-ordinated support when experiencing the horror of domestic violence.
Women's Safety Services SA's exceptional staff have deep expertise in compassionately and professionally supporting survivors at their most difficult moments. In a unique partnership with outstanding SAPOL representatives they will together deliver services from the Northern Hub that are local, convenient and targeted.
This important collaboration and new service, proudly funded by the State Government, has the potential to improve outcomes for women and help change and save lives.
As put by Joe Szakacs
Multi-agency hubs across South Australia are a valuable way to provide unique, supportive services to victim-survivors of domestic violence.
The establishment of this Northern Hub will offer a successful service model, in addition to existing services, to the northern areas of metropolitan Adelaide extending into the Barossa region.
The Commissioner of Police has provided a strong commitment to the Northern Multi-Agency Hub – approving the further co-location of police at this facility.
As put by Maria Hagias, Women's Safety Services SA
We are thrilled with the opportunity for increased, regionally-specific collaboration between services that the Northern Multi-Agency Hub presents.
We know that a collaborative approach to early intervention, recovery and prevention provides better outcomes for women, their children and the wider community, and we looked forward to continued collaboration with SAPOL in support of women in the Northern region of our state.
