Refuge change puts 'women at risk'
Respected Aboriginal advocate June Oscar has attacked a State Government funding agreement she believes will strip money for crisis care at Fitzroy Crossing's women's refuge, putting vulnerable women and children at risk.
Speaking after a national foetal alcohol syndrome disorder conference in Brisbane yesterday, the Queen's Birthday Honours recipient said changes to funding, putting focus on outreach services, would jeopardise the centre's 24-hour crisis support and accommodation service.
Ms Oscar, chief executive of the Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre in Fitzroy Crossing, said the Department for Child Protection had told her from next March $200,000 would effectively be cut from the shelter's $500,000 annual budget because it was seeing fewer clients.
She said the community had been working hard to help women before they got to crisis point, which had cut the number seeking refuge at certain periods.
"This decision will reduce the services we can provide women and children at their most vulnerable time of need, because we won't have the staff to support them around the clock when they might be at risk of things like self-harm," Ms Oscar said.
"There is an expectation we will do additional work in an out- reach role, but it can't replace the crisis care.
"The Government's decision because of waves of lower occupancy at certain times is akin to closing down a hospital just because some beds are empty."
Department for Child Protection and Family Support director-general Terry Murphy denied funding was being cut. He said the shelter had high vacancy rates, with only 13.6 per cent occupancy, and a new funding agreement would include access to a safe house as well as an out- reach component.
"The proposed model will provide the Marninwarntikura Women's Shelter with funding consistent with other safe houses and provide better outcomes for women and children experiencing domestic violence in the Fitzroy region," he said.
