- Cook Labor Government to deliver significant new crisis accommodation facility in Perth's northern suburbs
- $18.1 million commitment in the 2026-27 State Budget will fund 15 unit-refuge, providing safe accommodation for victim-survivors of family and domestic violence
- Part of priority to build safe and inclusive communities
The Cook Labor Government is committing $18.1 million to expand crisis accommodation capacity for women and children escaping family and domestic violence, with a new refuge to be delivered in Perth's northern suburbs.
This significant investment in the 2026-27 State Budget will fund the redevelopment of a governmentowned property within the City of Stirling into a modern crisis accommodation facility. The project will deliver 15 new units, significantly increasing capacity in the metropolitan area by six fold.
The facility is currently being used as a temporary refuge for up to five women and their children while the Stirling Women's Refuge is being redeveloped and expanded.
Following the Minister for the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence's visit to this site earlier this year, the Cook Labor Government identified an opportunity to make this refuge permanent, which would help meet demand for crisis accommodation in the north metropolitan area. The new refuge is expected to support women, with or without accompanying children, by providing safe, traumainformed accommodation and support. It will also reduce reliance on temporary solutions and contribute to longterm system improvements.
The redevelopment will embed inclusive design principles while making optimal use of the Government asset, ensuring the facility is safe, accessible and culturally appropriate.
Work to develop the service model will commence shortly and involve codesign with the family and domestic violence sector, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, multicultural advisory groups, and women and young people with lived experience.
Service model options to be explored include traditional refuge services, therapeutic refuge models, 24/7 central intake approaches, and specialised responses for older women and women with disability.
The project reflects the State Government's ongoing commitment to improving safety and access to support for victimsurvivors, with more than $700 million invested in initiatives to prevent and respond to family and domestic violence since 2017.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"This facility was meant to be a temporary solution while the Stirling Women's Refuge was redeveloped.
"Following my visit to this site earlier this year, the Cook Labor Government identified an opportunity to make this permanent, which would help meet demand for crisis accommodation in the north metropolitan area.
"This major project represents a significant step forward in boosting crisis accommodation in the northern suburbs delivering on our commitment to build safe and inclusive communities.
"Since 2017 this government has delivered 100 refuge units and this announcement increases the number of units in the pipeline to 108.
"Once both the Stirling Women's and Innaloo refuges are complete, capacity in the northern corridor will have increased sixfold.
"We are focused on increasing refuge capacity where it is needed most, providing not only a safe place to go but also the comprehensive, wrap-around supports that victim-survivors need to start to rebuild their lives."
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
"Our government continues to invest in more crisis and emergency accommodation, including for women and children escaping domestic violence.
"It's part of a record investment in housing and homelessness measures since 2021, including the delivery of nearly 4,000 social homes, with thousands of social homes and affordable rentals in the pipeline."
As stated by Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey:
"This $18.1 million investment is a significant outcome for our community.
"More than 800 people signed my open letter calling for this, and together we've helped secure a permanent refuge that will provide greater support for women and children escaping family and domestic violence in our northern suburbs.
"I've seen firsthand the impact of family and domestic violence across our community.
"This investment shows the Cook Labor Government's commitment to building safe and inclusive communities, and ensures women and children can access safe support close to home, when they need it most."
