Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk has today announced Armadale will be the location for the McGowan Government’s third one-stop family and domestic violence hub.
The ‘one-stop hub’ service will make it easier for people experiencing or at risk of family and domestic violence in and around the Armadale area to access the services they need in one place.
Armadale was selected as the location for the new hub after government data and local insight showed that Armadale and the broader east metropolitan corridor is an area of high demand, and a priority for investment in additional family and domestic violence services.
The hub model provides a range of specialist family and domestic violence and other community services in one location, prioritising ease of access for victims who are seeking help and support. By co-locating key support with other services, the hubs create a ‘soft’ entry point that also reduces stigma attached to seeking assistance.
In February, the McGowan Government committed an additional $60 million to tackling family and domestic violence in Western Australia, including the new hub to be delivered in Armadale.
Two similar one-stop family and domestic violence hubs were opened late last year – the Naala Djookan Healing Centre in Mirrabooka and Mara Pirni Healing Place in Kalgoorlie.
An integrated hub service model also reduces the requirement for women experiencing family and domestic violence to ‘tell their story’ numerous times, which is often a traumatic experience.
Research and consultation with peak bodies, government agencies, community members, Aboriginal Elders and people with lived experience of family and domestic violence will help to inform the development of the service model for the Armadale hub, which is expected to officially open in 2023.
Further details on the One Stop Hub program, which is being delivered in line with ‘Path to Safety: Western Australia’s Strategy to Reduce Family and Domestic Violence 2020-2030’, can be viewed on the Department of Communities website.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Simone McGurk:
“Family and domestic violence has serious and often long-term impacts on victims’ health and wellbeing, including injuries, poor mental health, reproductive health problems, alcohol and drug misuse and even death by homicide.
“The one-stop hub to be established in Armadale will bring together and wrap specialist services around people experiencing family and domestic violence in one location, removing the need for victims to relive their trauma as they visit multiple agencies.
“As we have seen with the one-stop hubs that opened in Mirrabooka and Kalgoorlie last year, delivering integrated support to victims can help to break the cycle of abuse, and support them to recover and thrive.
“There is an identified need for a one-stop family and domestic violence hub in Armadale, so I am confident that this hub will provide a valuable community service and help women and other at-risk family members to escape violence and get their lives back on track.”
As stated by Armadale MLA Tony Buti:
“This innovative one-stop hub will simplify access to crucial support and services for people suffering harm through family and domestic violence.
“I welcome the announcement of Armadale as the location for the new hub, which will promote broader benefits for the local community and ensure that women needing support have a local resource that is ready and able to help.
“Combining resources in a central location will help to improve outcomes for vulnerable members of our community and reduce trauma for victims.”
