- New Broome family and domestic violence refuge opens with $4.2 million investment from the Cook Labor Government
- To be named Jalbingan, meaning ‘safe family camp’ in Yawuru, the new refuge adds six supported places for women and children impacted by family and domestic violence
- Announcement brings number of refuge units delivered to 119 with 95 in the pipeline
- Cook Labor Government committed to building safe and inclusive communities
Prevention of Family and Domestic ViolenceMinister JessicaStojkovski has officially opened a new women’s refuge in Broome, providing a safe place for women and children escaping family and domestic violence to begin rebuilding their lives.
The Cook Labor Government committed $4.2 million to establish the new refuge through the upgrade and refurbishment of an existing State Government-owned property. The service will deliver six additional supported accommodation places for women, with or without accompanying children.
The refuge, to be named Jalbingan, meaning ‘safe family camp’ in Yawuru, reflects the strength, resilience and cultural identity of the local community. It will provide culturally safe, trauma-informed accommodation and support, helping victim-survivors access safety, stability and healing.
Delivered by MercyCare, Jalbingan has been designed to meet the needs of women and children in Broome and surrounding communities.
The new refuge will also help relieve pressure on the existing Broome Women’s Refuge, ensuring more women and children can access the support they need, when they need it most.
Jalbingan complements the Cook Labor Government’s broader investment in preventing family and domestic violence and strengthening support for victim-survivors in Broome and the West Kimberley.
Through partnerships with Aboriginal communities, specialist service providers and local organisations, the Cook Labor Government remains committed to delivering services that are safe, accessible and responsive to the needs of women, children and families in the region.
The Broome FDV One Stop Hub, known as Bibimbiya Jan-ga Buru (women and children’s healing place), provides an entry point for a range of specialist supports for people experiencing family and domestic violence, including advocacy, counselling, legal assistance, and support for children. It has been delivered by Men’s Outreach Service Aboriginal Corporation (MOSAC), operating as Family Outreach Service, since November 2024 and has operated in its own dedicated premises since June 2025.
Last month a new Safe at Home program was launched in Broome, ensuring victim-survivors can access support to stay safely in their own homes or a home of their choice, where it is safe to do so, following family and domestic violence.
Additionally, the Broome Family and Domestic Violence Response Team – a partnership between the Department of Communities, Western Australia Police Force, Department of Justice Adult Community Corrections and Family and Domestic Violence Coordinated Response Services – has been operating seven days a week since 2025.
Since 2017 this Labor Government has invested over $817.5 million in new funding to respond to family and domestic violence and delivered 119 refuge units with 95 in the pipeline.
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
“The Cook Labor Government is committed to ensuring women and children experiencing family and domestic violence can access safe, culturally responsive support, no matter where they live.
“The opening of Jalbingan marks an important step in strengthening Broome’s response to family and domestic violence, providing additional crisis accommodation and support for women and children when they need it most.
“More than a place to stay, Jalbingan is a place of safety, healing and hope. It will provide women and children with the dignity, security and support they need to recover from trauma and take the next steps toward a safer future.
“This investment forms part of our broader commitment to preventing family and domestic violence across Western Australia and ensuring victim-survivors can access the support they need to live free from violence.
“I thank MercyCare, Yawuru Elders, community leaders and frontline service providers whose expertise and advocacy have helped bring this refuge to life. Their leadership has helped create a service that is grounded in community needs and cultural safety.”
Comments attributed to Kimberley MLA Divina D’Anna:
“Every woman and child deserves to feel safe. Jalbingan will provide a culturally safe place where victim-survivors can begin to heal and rebuild their lives.
“This investment means more women and children in Broome can access the safety and support they need, closer to home and when they need it most.
“Jalbingan is another important step in ensuring women and children escaping family and domestic violence have access to safe accommodation and specialist support.”
As stated by MercyCare general manager of youth, wellbeing and accommodation Suzanne Caren:
“We’ve seen a growing demand for family and domestic violence support across Broome and the wider Kimberley. Many families need intensive, wraparound support to rebuild their lives following experiences of violence, and this demand consistently exceeds available services.
“Our goal is to create an environment where all residents feel welcomed, valued and empowered as they work towards healing and long-term stability. Jalbingan will provide a vital safe haven for vulnerable women and children, while helping to address the significant service gap in one of Western Australia’s most remote regions.”
