A new purpose-built refuge for women and children fleeing domestic and family violence has opened in Albury, providing safe crisis accommodation and specialist on-site support in regional New South Wales.
The Minns Labor Government is continuing to build a safer state for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence in regional New South Wales, with the opening of a new Core and Cluster refuge in Albury.
With the $6.1 million investment from the NSW Government, Betty's Place has been developed by Community Housing Provider Housing Plus, and on-site specialist support services will be delivered by Yes Unlimited.
The crisis accommodation consists of seven units. This includes a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units to accommodate different household types, including one wheelchair-accessible dwelling.
Each unit is designed with privacy, safety and comfort in mind. All the units are fully self-contained and feature a private terrace, allowing families to begin rebuilding their lives in a secure and supportive environment.
There is also a multipurpose communal building for women and children to come together.
Yes Unlimited will provide trauma-informed support that is tailored to victim-survivors' needs from an on-site core facility with offices and consulting rooms.
This investment is part of the NSW Government's $426.6 million Core and Cluster program, to expand crisis accommodation and provide on-site specialist support for women and children fleeing violence. Once all 49 new refuges are complete, the program will support more than 2,900 additional victim-survivors of domestic and family violence each year.
The safety of women and children in regional New South Wales is a priority, with 36 of the 49 Core and Cluster refuges based in communities outside metropolitan areas.
The program is part of the wider work by the Minns Labor Government to provide safe housing for those escaping domestic and family violence, including a historic $5.1 billion investment in social and affordable housing, with at least half the new homes prioritised for victim-survivors, and an additional $130 million for new crisis beds.
The Minns Labor Government is also working hard to address domestic and family violence in the state, including closing gaps in support services in regional, rural and remote New South Wales, strengthening protections and holding perpetrators to account, and beginning the important work of stopping the violence before it starts.
In the June Budget, the government invested a landmark $184.1 million to increase funding for key domestic and family violence programs by 50 per cent, so that victim-survivors can access timely, life-saving support when they need it most.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:
"The opening of Betty's Place in Albury means more women and children in regional New South Wales have access to safe, purpose-built accommodation that supports privacy, security and healing while delivering specialist services on site when they're needed most.
"These refuges offer more than a roof over someone's head, they are designed to support independence, with fully self-contained homes and trauma-support working together to help victim-survivors recover and start rebuilding their lives.
"In regional communities where domestic and family violence is a major driver of homelessness, expanding crisis accommodation with wraparound support is essential to ensuring women and children are not forced to chose between danger and having nowhere safe to go."
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
"We know women and children escaping domestic and family violence in regional communities face different challenges to those in metropolitan areas. The Minns Government is working hard to close gaps in frontline services and provide victim-survivors with safe places to stay and heal.
"Betty's Place in Albury is one of those places, providing a safe home for women and children escaping violence so they can rebuild and recover.
"Thanks to Housing Plus and Yes Unlimited for their commitment to ensuring this vital service makes a difference to many lives in regional New South Wales."
Interim CEO of Housing Plus Bryan Mason said:
"The opening of the brand new Betty's Place refuge in Albury marks a proud and significant moment for both our organisation and the local community.
"Delivering this state of the art facility - designed using our proven Core and Cluster model first piloted in Orange - represents our continued commitment to supporting women and children with safe, purpose built accommodation.
"Through a strong partnership with Yes Unlimited, we are delighted to see this vital refuge completed, and we look forward to the positive impact it will have for years to come."
CEO of Yes Unlimited Di Glover said:
"Yes Unlimited is thrilled to have partnered with Housing Plus to create this wonderful facility for women and children who have experienced domestic family violence in our community.
"It has been our long-held goal to increase the quantity and quality of crisis accommodation for this very vulnerable cohort, and it is wonderful to have finally achieved this.
"We very much appreciate the financial support from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice and the contributions of the broader Albury Wodonga community in bringing this project to fruition."
Support:
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
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 information on Men's Behaviour Change Programs operating in your local area, contact the Men's Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
