Local service provider Momentum Collective will deliver the building project. The refuge will have a cluster of up to six accommodation units, which are expected to open in 2026.
Based on the Core and Cluster model, each unit will be self-contained to ensure the privacy and independence of residents and to allow people to bring their family pet with them to safety.
A 'core' area will include open spaces for children to play, as well as private rooms to facilitate access to one-on-one support such as counselling or legal advice.
All spaces have also been designed to be culturally safe and appropriate, so all women and children who come through its doors feel supported to recover from trauma, restore their connection to community and rebuild their lives.
The NSW Government has invested $426.6 million over four years in the Core and Cluster program, which provides crisis accommodation and on-site support services to women and children leaving violence.
Once completed, Core and Cluster refuges will house and support more than an additional 2,900 victim-survivors of domestic violence each year.
The Minns Labor Government is building a safer New South Wales by addressing domestic and family violence from all angles. We are committed to providing wraparound supports to victim-survivors escaping abuse, as well as strengthening our justice system to make perpetrators accountable, intervening earlier so violence doesn't escalate, and implementing a primary prevention strategy to stop the violence before it starts.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
"A woman fleeing an abusive relationship should not have the burden of worrying about where she and her children will sleep that night.
"No one should have to choose between homelessness and staying in a violent situation.This new refuge will provide vital support for women and children in Clarence Valley, to ensure they have a safe place to go when they need it most.
"This refuge will give women and children the stability and care they need after escaping violence - helping them recover, reconnect and begin rebuilding their lives."
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:
"It's crucial that we continue to provide culturally safe services and supports for Aboriginal women and children escaping violence, as they may experience multiple and intersecting challenges impacting their experience of violence, and face additional barriers to seeking support and safety.
"This new refuge is one of nine under the Core and Cluster program that are Aboriginal-led to support the safety of Aborignal women and children, so they can turn their mind to rebuilding their lives and reconnecting with the community.
"We know there are better outcomes when Aboriginal organisations and people design, lead and implement Closing the Gap initiatives."
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"We know there is a great need for crisis accommodation for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, especially in regional and rural New South Wales. We are working hard to deliver more refuges under the Core and Cluster program as fast as possible.
"Women and children fleeing violent and abusive homes have experienced trauma, and we're making sure these refuges are designed to help women heal and recover by providing them with independent living spaces and culturally appropriate, trauma-informed, accessible, on-site support.
"We want all women and children to know that they don't have to stay in an abusive relationship or return to a violent situation because they have no place to go."
Labor spokesperson for Clarence Emily Suvaal MLC said:
"It's wonderful to see the Core and Cluster model rolled out in the Clarence Valley.
"I want to commend the work of Momentum Collective and Gurehlgam, for the care taken to design a culturally safe place for our community."
Dr Tracey Mackie CEO of Momentum Collective said:
"Momentum Collective is on a mission to create inclusive opportunities and positive outcomes for all the people we work with, including women and children impacted by domestic and family violence.
"That's why we're building this service because we know that when people come through the doors, they will enter a safe place where they will be supported to heal from trauma and build brighter futures.
"In partnership with local, Aboriginal-led Gurehlgam, we have secured a calm, tranquil and nature-rich location on which to create this safe space that supports breaking cycles of violence and empowering individuals to live free from violence and abuse."
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
