A request for additional financial support for the Domestic Violence Action Centre has been fobbed off by the Federal Government.
Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann said he wrote to the Minister for Women’s Safety in April for a continuation of the COVID funding and has received a response that provided platitudes rather than promises.
“The pandemic has seen an increased demand for services from DVAC,” Mr Neumann said.
“DVAC received an additional $630,000 for services in Ipswich and Toowoomba, including emergency relief, trauma counselling, health and wellbeing support and the provision of DV specialists with other agencies.
“I was pleased the Government provided additional funding during the worst of the pandemic, but the funding needs to be continued in order to meet the demand for services and increasing complexity in needs.
“DVAC CEO Amie Carrington has told me she believes the impact of the pandemic on women’s health, wellbeing and experience of violence has not been fully realised and demand is continuing to rise.”
The additional funding DVAC received during the pandemic equated to about 195 hours of frontline service delivery.
About $50,000 of that funding finished up in June, with the remainder of those funds due to finish up between now and the end of the year.
Any loss of funding will have an impact on 10 jobs across DVAC services.
Mr Neumann said he wrote to the Minister for Women seeking an assurance of additional funding to continue that work.
“Minister Ruston’s response to my correspondence was full of platitudes and failed to address any of the issues I raised.
“It was not only disappointing; it demonstrated a lack of concern for or interest in frontline services.
“In stark contrast, Labor’s Shadow Minister for Women, Tanya Plibersek spent time with DVAC staff, listening to them
“She heard how these workers are already operating at capacity and are at risk of burn-out themselves.
“Tanya Plibersek was quite moved by the DVAC staff, who told how they kept going because they are all passionate about the work they do and the clients they serve.”
