Introduction to the new investment

On 19 October 2021, the NSW Government announced historic investment of $484.3 million, for housing and specialist supports for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence (DFV).

This is the single biggest investment in addressing DFV in the State’s history.

The funding will provide $426.6 million over four years to expand Core and Cluster to deliver and operate new women’s refuges that will support up to an additional 2,900 women and children escaping DFV, each year.

The funding package also includes:

• $52.5 million over four years towards the Community Housing Innovation Fund (CHIF) partnership with the community housing sector, to provide approximately 200 social and affordable homes for women experiencing DFV.
• $5.2 million over four years for a trial in two areas, one site in regional NSW and one in Greater Sydney, to provide dedicated supports for up to 3,200 accompanied children and young people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, with a focus on those impacted by DFV.

This investment is on top of an additional $60 million over the next two years to boost frontline DFV services and an additional $32.5 million over four years, for the expansion of Staying Home Leaving Violence to support more women and children experiencing domestic violence to stay safe and secure in their homes. In addition, the Commonwealth Government has committed $80 million over two years under the 2021-2023 Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence National Partnership Agreement.