DFV PAWS grant program

The NSW Department of Communities and Justice has developed a grants program to support victim-survivors of domestic and family violence to leave violent situations without worrying about the safety of their pets.

The Domestic and Family Violence Pets and Animal Welfare Support (DFV PAWS) program has provided grants of between $3,000 and $40,000 to eligible organisations. The grant program is now closed and successful applicants have been contacted.

The grants were available to organisations that provide either of the following services in NSW:

• crisis accommodation for victim-survivors escaping domestic and family violence; or
• animal welfare including shelters and veterinarians who provide, or want to provide, free emergency services and shelter for pets of DFV victim-survivors.

DFV PAWS Grants were available in two streams:

Stream One for women’s refuges and other crisis accommodation providers to become more pet friendly.

• Stream One funding can be used for building upgrades, buying goods or pet supplies, and accessing veterinary services or pet accommodation. This stream can also be used to fund shelter or crisis accommodation staff training about basic pet care.

Stream Two for animal welfare organisations to develop new or improve existing animal shelter services for people fleeing DFV.

• In Stream Two funding is available for building upgrades to improve a shelter’s capacity to specifically cater for the animals of people leaving DFV, or provide DFV training to animal shelter staff.

Successful applicants

The Department of Communities and Justice is pleased to announce that the following organisations have been awarded DFV PAWS grants: