- Ruah Centre for Women and Children officially
opened in Perth's CBD to support women and children escaping family and
domestic violence
- Almost $30 million Cook Government investment delivering
vital safe accommodation
- Seven-storey centre includes 13 safe
accommodation units and a One Stop Hub
- $882,353 Lotterywest grant for Ruah to provide
further crisis and emergency relief
The Cook Labor Government
is delivering vital safe accommodation for victim-survivors of family and
domestic violence, with the new Ruah Centre for Women and Children officially
open in Perth's CBD.
Premier Roger Cook,
Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton and Planning,
Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey today officially opened the seven-storey
purpose-built facility, which received $29.2 million in State Government
funding.
The centre is Australia's
first dedicated, state-of-the-art healing and recovery centre for women and
children fleeing family and domestic violence, offering safe accommodation
alongside a One Stop Hub and a range of services to help families regain their
independence and wellbeing - all in the same location.
It will provide 13 self-contained
units, supporting up to 13 women and 26 children at a time with secure and
private accommodation.
Wraparound services such
as counselling and legal supports will be delivered alongside the units, forming
part of a One Stop Hub called the 'Karlup' Service that will help families
regain their independence and wellbeing.
In 2022, the WA Labor
Government was forced to call in a City of Perth Council decision to oppose
Ruah Community Services' application to move its existing Shenton Street
drop-in centre around the corner to a site on James Street. Ruah would have been forced to shut down its
drop-in service to facilitate construction of its Centre for Women and
Children, without State Government intervention.
In addition, Ruah was
presented with a new $882,353 Lotterywest grant to continue delivering crisis
and emergency relief. The grant will also assist Ruah to incorporate
preventative measures and capacity building for people in need into its crisis
and emergency relief program.
Comments attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"We
know a range of responses is required to address high rates of family and
domestic violence in the community, and supports for vulnerable women and
children escaping violence are critical to these efforts.
"This centre is the first in WA to bring comprehensive support
services and secure accommodation units together under one roof to support the
healing and recovery of victim-survivors of family and domestic violence.
"This ambitious project faced significant challenges that could
have prevented its delivery, so I congratulate Ruah on their dedication to
ensuring the Ruah Centre for Women and Children became a reality.
"My Government is proud to have contributed almost $30 million
to deliver this incredible facility, and is committed to providing services to
help victim-survivors of family and domestic violence to live safe and secure
lives."
Comments attributed to Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence
Minister Sabine Winton:
"The issue of family and domestic violence is one that the
Cook Government takes extremely seriously.
"Ruah's new facility and the Karlup Service will provide
safety, privacy and dignity to victim-survivors while they reclaim their lives
and give them time to heal, recover and thrive as they start to build a new
future for themselves.
"Importantly it will increase the
provision of short-term and transitional accommodation for women and children
escaping family and domestic violence in the Perth metropolitan area.
"I commend the commitment and vision of not-for-profit Ruah
Community Services, who championed this project from its inception."
Comments attributed to Planning, Housing and Homelessness Minister John
Carey:
"The Cook Labor
Government has provided almost $30 million to make this project a reality, and
for more than 60 years Ruah has been providing important and credible services
to assist the most vulnerable members of our community.
"The new Ruah Centre for
Women and Children will provide housing and a safe haven for women and children
who have experienced family and domestic violence, to get the support they need
to be safe, heal, recover and thrive, with access to holistic, life-changing
services in one location.
"We believe that Ruah
should be in the heart of the city to deliver these critical services, despite
the continued opposition from the City of Perth against the Safe Night Space
and the Ruah Centre for Women and Children."
