New women’s refuge for Lake Macquarie community

Tuesday 26 September 2023

Women and their children impacted by domestic violence in the Hunter have another safe place to seek support with a new women’s refuge in Lake Macquarie being built.

Developed by Housing Plus in partnership with Jenny’s Place, the refuge is supported by more than $5.9 million in capital funding under Tranche 2 of the NSW Government’s Core and Cluster Program.

Domestic violence is a leading cause of homelessness across NSW and the country.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said, “ensuring women and children escaping domestic violence have access to a safe and secure home is crucial to creating better outcomes.

“The 2023-24 Budget helps strengthen the safety net for those experiencing homelessness, in particular women and children escaping domestic and family violence, through $11 million in funding for Temporary Accommodation and $5.9 million to Specialist Homelessness Services to respond to increasing demand.

“Core and Cluster is an innovative program that combines the services and supports of a traditional refuge with independent living facilities, allowing victim-survivors to get help, stay safe and plan for the future.”

Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said the government takes the issue of women’s safety seriously and is committed to investing in prevention of domestic violence and sexual assault.

“As part of the Core and Cluster program, the Lake Macquarie site is one of 27 domestic violence refuges our government is delivering in regional communities across NSW and one of 10 that we are delivering in partnership with Housing Plus,” Minister Harrison said.

Jenny’s Place is a locally-based service that provides direct relief and support to women and children escaping domestic violence to help break the cycle of violence.

Minister Harrison further said, “addressing the scourge of domestic violence is a whole-of-community responsibility and we are pleased to be working with partners, such as Jenny’s Place and Housing Plus, to ensure the needs of victim-survivors are being heard and addressed.

Member for Lake Macquarie Greg Piper MP said today’s announcement of much-needed crisis accommodation in Lake Macquarie will provide life-changing support for local women and their families escaping family and domestic violence.

“Victims of domestic violence face many barriers when trying to escape abusive relationships. By providing safe crisis accommodation and financial and other support services Jenny’s Place helps victims and their families escape violence and create better lives,” Mr Piper said.

“The innovative Core and Cluster accommodation model will allow families for stay together during their times of crisis, supporting independent living while also providing victims with direct access to the support they need.”

The Lake Macquarie site will be able to accommodate up to five families at a time and four single women with a total of nine fully self-contained units. It will include indoor and outdoor play spaces for children, as well as designated areas for pets and communal activities.

Housing Plus CEO Justin Cantelo said the independent living model offered though the Core and Cluster design was a considerable improvement to the standard of communal crisis accommodation previously on offer.

“This model challenges the status quo that has been the accepted standard of care for many decades and delivers tailored services to meet the needs of individuals and families in crisis, providing women and children leaving violence the best opportunity for trauma recovery,” Mr Cantelo said.

“Under this partnership, Housing Plus will construct and manage the property, with the accommodation and services being delivered by Jenny's Place who have operated in the Newcastle region for 46 years and who are widely recognised as experts in the delivery of specialist domestic violence and homelessness services.”

Jenny’s Place Executive Manager Marcia Chapman said the region was in desperate need of additional crisis accommodation to help address the needs of women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

“We know that many women are trapped in violent relationships simply because there is nowhere else to go and this challenge is heightened for women with children,” Ms Chapman said.

“The Core and Cluster program elevates the standard of accommodation provided to women leaving violence, allowing mothers and children to stay in independent accommodation.

“Importantly, the Core and Cluster model allows for teenage boys to be accommodated with their mother and siblings, with potential for pets to be kept onsite, these are important changes that will make a difference to the number of women choosing to leave domestic and family violence situations.”

Support through the Core and Cluster model is personalised and delivered on a case-by-case basis. It is also delivered onsite to provide wraparound support within the safety of the community the refuge provides.

The Core and Cluster program provides $426.6 million over four years to build new Core and Cluster accommodation facilities across NSW.

Once all three funding rounds are completed, and refuges are operational, more than 2,900 women and children escaping domestic and family violence will be supported each year.