A new Domestic Violence Prevention and Recovery Hub is being launched today in Noarlunga by South Australian Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Katrine Hildyard and Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth.
The new Southern Hub will provide support to women experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence and addresses a Malinauskas Government election commitment to establish northern and southern metropolitan safety hubs to support and empower women experiencing violence at the earliest opportunity and to raise community awareness and enhance community prevention efforts.
The State Government has provided $1 million in funding towards the hubs. Funding has been further boosted through the National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses with the Australian Government, with Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth attending today's launch and ensuring that federally funded workers help staff the hub.
Named The Yellow Gate – with yellow representing sunflowers, positivity and hope - and the gate representing change and transition to a new stage of life – the Southern Hub will be run by Community Justice Services SA as the lead coordinating agency and is located within the Can:Do Centre at Colonnades Shopping Centre, Noarlunga.
The site was chosen in consultation with key local stakeholders for being accessible and safe for women, while also enabling co-location with important services based within the centre.
The Women's and Children's Health Network's Yarrow Place will also deliver counselling and medical services from the hub.
The hub will initially host two dedicated staff members, funded through the State-Commonwealth National Partnership, and employed by Community Justice Services SA. One has been recruited, with recruitment for the second underway.
Plans are also being finalised for a third staff member from Nunga Mi:Minar (Northern Regional Domestic Violence and Aboriginal Family Violence Service) to deliver First Nations family violence strategies.
As put by Katrine Hildyard
The earlier that women experiencing violence can access support, the more likely they are to be safe.
We are very proud to launch this hub which will provide that crucial early intervention. The hub fulfils an election commitment and brings together services within a safe, accessible space where southern suburbs women can drop in, access information, referrals and other supports, and maintain community connection.
The Yellow Gate is a shining example of state and federal governments working together towards the prevention and eradication of domestic, family and sexual violence. The workers the Federal Government is funding at the hub will be critical to its success.
As well as being a crucial point of contact for women experiencing violence, the hub will build awareness about violence and empower community prevention efforts. Preventing domestic violence is everybody's business and this hub will help deliver this message.
I thank Community Justice Services SA – an outstanding, well-established local community legal service – for leading the hub and for working closely with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations to embed targeted and culturally safe expertise in the hub to ensure we better support Aboriginal women and their families.
This hub will make a real difference in the lives of women in South Australia and to our community's capacity to tackle violence against women.
As put by Amanda Rishworth
I'm delighted to be at the launch of The Yellow Gate Southern Hub, with today's launch aptly falling within the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.
Just over one year ago, the Australian, state and territory governments released the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032. The National Plan is the overarching framework that guides our work towards ending violence against women and children over the next 10 years.
I'm pleased funding from our commitment to deliver an additional 500 frontline service and community workers to support women and children experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence nationally has gone towards boosting the funding towards the hub as we work collectively to stamp out violence against women and children.
As put by Catherine McMorrine, CEO of Community Justice Services SA
Community Justice is proud to be part of the new Southern DV hub and in particular we wish to acknowledge the leadership of the local community group Southern Domestic Violence Action group for their community lead lobbying which has over the last 6 years called for the need for a safe place for women in the South.
Given recent incidents of violence against women in SA it is more important than ever to be able to provide a safe place for women in the South to access information, services and support when needed. The Yellow Gate is a great example of when Government and community work can together to address domestic and family violence.
