Federal Member for Parkes, Mark Coulton has today announced that the Western New South Wales (NSW) Community Legal Centre in Dubbo will receive a grant of $1.11 million over three years to provide legal assistance and other support services to women who are experiencing domestic violence.
Dubbo and the surrounding regions will benefit from this funding which will result in an increased service capacity for the Western NSW Community Legal Centre. It will also enhance partnerships with other providers that will be established to break down the barriers that women face in receiving the help they need.
“The Western NSW Community Legal Centre currently services the majority of my electorate and have done so for nearly 20 years,” Mr Coulton said.
“It gives me great pleasure to announce this funding which will expand upon the already vital services that they provide to a range of people in need across my electorate, including victims of domestic violence.”
Principal Solicitor of the Western NSW Community Legal Centre, Mr Patrick O’Callaghan will be working closely with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in order to formulate the best way to provide intensive, wrap-around support to women affected by domestic violence.
“The unit will take a case management approach to ensure that services are tailored to each woman’s circumstances and will include both legal help and other practical assistance such as accessing counselling and crisis accommodation,” Mr O’Callaghan said.
“The Western NSW Community Legal Centre is very grateful to be receiving this funding which will certainly assist our organisation to expand upon the domestic violence support services that we already provide.”
Today’s announcement forms part of the Australian Government’s $100 million Women’s Safety Package. Under this package, $15 million over three years is being allocated for a nation-wide pilot to deliver targeted legal and related services to women through new specialist domestic violence units and health justice partnerships.
The Women’s Safety Package is intended to complement existing services and the work that state and territory governments are doing to reduce family violence.
Further information can be found at the Attorney-General’s Department website.