I am delighted to announce the opening of a new high quality housing facility for women in Kooyong thanks to a $300,000 start-up grant from the Turnbull Government.
The new facility which will be completed by mid 2018 is a joint project between Servants Community Housing and the Hawthorn West Baptist Church, which initially established Servants in 1986 to manage a boarding house for vulnerable members of our society. This project will be the fourth facility run by Servants, which already manages three facilities in Kooyong housing up to 90 residents.
The women’s only facility will assist local women at risk of homelessness, often through family breakdowns, and help them to remain in their community as they work through challenges.
Servants is an experienced community housing provider, having cared for some of the Kooyong community’s most vulnerable members for 30 years. Through this new facility, women in need will be provided affordable, private and secure accommodation, and support including meals and amenities. The facility will be available to provide important assistance to women who are subject to domestic violence.
The Turnbull Government is determined to keep women and children in Australia safe with significant investments in programs that directly support women and children who are victims of, or at risk of domestic violence. In 2015 the Government announced the $100 million Women’s Safety Package and in the 2016-17 budget committed a further $100 million. Other initiatives include amending the Family Law Act to ban direct cross-examination in family law proceedings where there are allegations of violence; funding additional family consultants to assist in the early management of family law cases; and for legal assistance and family law services to help those affected by family violence. Alongside the States and Territories, the Government has launched a $30 million national campaign to change young people’s attitudes to women and violence.
I have been honoured to support Servants in the important work they do in our community for many years. Since 2012, the Kooyong Christmas Giving Tree has honoured the spirit of the season and offered Servants residents some extra festive cheer. To date, we have raised in excess of $50,000 in cash and in-kind donations thanks to our very generous local community.
This new facility will provide a safe and comfortable residence for women in need, and further the capacity of Servants to perform their invaluable services in the Kooyong community.
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