Help on hand for Northern Rivers women

August 2023

Vulnerable women living in NSW Northern Rivers region affected by ongoing floods will have access to holistic support to address social, financial, and medical disadvantage.

Delivered through more than $1.5 million in Department of Communities and Justice grants, and facilitated through the Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Service (NORWACS), the funding will enable support to be delivered to remote and regional areas across the Northern Rivers through the Women’s Outreach Trauma Health Service (WORTH).

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said as a result of recent floods, many services had been physically destroyed, along with housing and transport, impacting access to essential services by vulnerable groups.

“Social inequalities experienced by women are magnified during and after natural disasters”, Minister Park said.

“The Northern Rivers region has experienced one emergency after another. First, it was the pandemic, then it was the floods.

“For women and children who have been impacted by domestic violence, these are particularly vulnerable times, with families facing economic pressures and possibly homelessness. That is why the work undertaken by the NORWACS emergency outreach program WORTH is so important.”

The rate of domestic violence recorded for the Northern Rivers in the five years to September 2022 increased by 3.5% per year on average, with Tweed Heads recording the highest five-year increase at 6.9%.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said domestic and family violence had seen an increase in the years preceding the pandemic and continued to climb across the State.

“Before the floods, domestic violence recorded the highest increases of crime in Lismore for the preceding five years,” Minister Harrison said.

“With research demonstrating gender-based violence towards women increases after natural disasters, without intervention, we fear the Northern Rivers can expect this upward trend to continue.

“This service will ensure that women, especially those escaping domestic violence, who need access to critical services have access to them, when and where they need it.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin MP said she welcomed the additional funding.

“It will give additional support to women and children who have suffered domestic violence, exacerbated by our years of disasters,” she said. “NORWACS is an organisation committed to support and solutions.”

NORWACS General Manager, Kelly Banister, said NORWACS is committed to providing a tangible, proactive solution to alleviate as much disadvantage as possible while the region rebuilds.

“Even before the floods, the Northern Rivers was one of the highest housing stress areas in the State - so without homes and access to support services, such stress will develop into significant mental health challenges for the area and our hospitals,” Mrs Banister said.

“The Women’s Outreach Trauma Health Service will connect services across health, mental health, domestic violence and housing to support vulnerable women and create better outcomes.”

The outreach program will lead a team of qualified support workers from NORWACS and partner organisations who will visit communities to engage with local women and identify their needs, provide services and support community access to other services providers.

The initiative will provide relief through specialised women’s health and wellbeing in flood-affected communities across the Northern Rivers while physical services are rebuilt.