A new 'one-stop hub' that will make it easier for people experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence to access services has been officially opened in Mirrabooka.
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk toured the completed hub today ahead of service delivery commencing on Monday, December 7.
The Mirrabooka is the second such facility launched by the McGowan Government in as many days, after the Minister officially opened the Mara Birni Healing Place one-stop hub in Kalgoorlie yesterday.
The Mirrabooka one-stop hub has been named Naala Djookan Healing Centre, which means 'our sisters' in Noongar language. The importance of naming the hub using Noongar language was highlighted during the extensive co-design process for the development of the place-based family and domestic violence hub model.
The hub will provide integrated wraparound services to enable people experiencing family and domestic violence to get help sooner, and closer to where they live.
The City of Stirling, which already has a strong track record in delivering family and domestic violence support services in the area, will deliver services at the Mirrabooka hub as part of a consortium with a number of specialist agencies working in a range of areas, including health, mental health, counselling, alcohol and other drug, legal, housing and financial counselling services. Several of the consortium partners will also provide family and domestic violence support and services for men off site.
There will be a focus on providing culturally safe and trauma informed services and supports for people from all backgrounds. The consortium partnerships with culturally and linguistically diverse services will ensure supports are tailored for people from these communities, and partnerships with Aboriginal organisations will allow for the provision of Aboriginal-led services for Aboriginal people.
An 'intake team' will co-ordinate access to services for people experiencing family and domestic violence, taking into account all aspects of the victim's situation.
Naala Djookan Healing Centre will also have an important role in raising awareness of family and domestic violence through engagement and education sessions that seek to 'change the story' about family and domestic violence locally and in surrounding areas.
The Mirrabooka and Kalgoorlie hubs are part of the McGowan Government's Stopping Family and Domestic Violence Policy, with an additional $73 million committed to family and domestic violence initiatives since 2017.
The 'hub' model emerged from extensive research and consultation with peak bodies, government agencies, community members, Aboriginal Elders and people with lived experience of family and domestic violence.
It also reduces the requirement of women experiencing family and domestic violence to have to 'tell their story' numerous times, which is often a traumatic experience.
The launch of the Mirrabooka hub coincides with day nine of the government's fourth annual 16 Days in WA campaign to stop violence against women and their families.
The campaign, which has a theme of 'Respect Starts With You' in 2020, aims to shift community attitudes and views that can lead to violence occurring.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
"Family and domestic violence has serious and often ongoing impacts on women's health and wellbeing, including injuries, poor mental health, reproductive health problems, alcohol and drug misuse and even death by homicide.
"Naala Djookan Healing Centre will meet a critical need for people experiencing family and domestic violence and their families, enabling them to get the help and support they need sooner and closer to home.
"The 'one-stop hub' approach will bring together and wrap services around those who use them, rather than requiring people experiencing family and domestic violence to go to a number of different places.
"We identified a need for a family and domestic violence one-stop service in Mirrabooka after coming to government in 2017, so I am proud to be opening this hub that will now begin delivering important services to the community."
As stated by Mirrabooka MLA Janine Freeman:
"This innovative one-stop hub will simplify access to services, and no doubt provide invaluable support to those experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence in Mirrabooka and surrounding areas.
"By locating specialist supports at one location, there will be less need for women to retell their story to multiple service providers, which is often a traumatic experience for them.
"I'm delighted that the McGowan Government has delivered another valuable resource for the Mirrabooka community and appointed a well-regarded service provider in the City of Stirling, which is a well-regarded partner in our efforts to stop family and domestic violence in this area."
