Women experiencing domestic and family violence on the Sunshine Coast will have a safe place to go with $3.6 million secured for five years to continue operating Peggy’s Place Women’s Shelter and Mobile Domestic Violence Support Service.
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Di Farmer said Kyabra Community Association had secured the contract to deliver the women’s shelter and mobile support service on the Sunshine Coast.
“One of the reasons some women don’t leave abusive situations is not having somewhere safe and secure to go,” she said.
“Peggy’s Place provides six places of safe accommodation every night to women and children escaping violence in the Sunshine Coast area.
“This funding not only makes sure Peggy’s Place will continue to operate over the next five years, it also gives Kyabra the certainty to plan for the future and strengthen workforce capability.
“Shelters like this give women and children with a safe place and support to help them plan their future.”
Ms Farmer said Kyabra’s mobile support service would provide specialist domestic and family violence support, including specialist information and advice, safety planning and risk assessment to women impacted by domestic and family violence in the broader community.
“Mobile services are important to make sure women who don’t necessarily want or need to stay in a shelter can access the support they need,” she said.
“It also supports women who are wanting more information about their options.”
Ms Farmer said one-off funding of $15,500 was also provided to Kyabra for staff training in the Train-the-Trainer MATES program.
“The MATES program is about teaching people what to do if they think someone may be experiencing domestic and family violence,” she said.
“Often people want to help, but don’t know how to intervene safely, or even what to say to ask the question.
“MATES training helps people to know what they can do to help.”
Ms Farmer said the Palaszczuk Government was the first Queensland government in more than two decades to build new domestic violence shelters.
“By the end of the year, construction on our two newest shelters will be completed, which will bring the numbers of shelters in the state to fifty-four,” she said.
“This will mean 319 places of safety every night for Queenslanders escaping domestic and family 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.”
