- Dedicated counselling service for children and young people affected by family and domestic violence to commence in Northam
- $1.2m service will be delivered by Yorgum Healing Service
- Fulfills State Government election commitment
A new youth counselling service to support children and young people in Northam will help disrupt the cycle of family and domestic violence.
Yorgum Healing Services has been contracted to deliver the Northam Youth Counselling Service, a $1.2 million, three-year program to support children and young people impacted by family and domestic violence. Importantly, the program recognises the flow-on impacts that domestic violence has on children and young people who grow up in homes where there is family and domestic violence.
Yorgum will deliver the service in a way that offers support and services to young people where they feel safe, including through outreach to schools and community centres. Yorgum’s programs aim to support social connection, healing and recovery through programs tailored to the young person’s age and cultural background.
Yorgum is a well-respected Aboriginal community-controlled organisation (ACCO) established in 1991 by a group of Aboriginal women to provide counselling support for Aboriginal people experiencing spiritual, emotional and psychological pain.
The service delivers on a State Government election commitment to establish a family and domestic violence counselling service for young people in Northam.
It follows the launch of OpenSpace in March, a similar service supporting young people in Rockingham who have been affected by family and domestic violence.
The announcement of the new Northam service comes during the Cook Government’s 16 Days in WA campaign to end family and domestic violence. The theme for 2023 is “Stopping Family and Domestic Violence: Play Your Part”, which encourages everyone to consider what they might be able to do to help stop family and domestic violence.
People experiencing family and domestic violence can call the Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 007 339, or Men’s Domestic Violence Helpline 1800 000 599, or the National Helpline 1800 RESPECT.
Comments attributed to Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Sabine Winton:
“For children and young people, the trauma of family and domestic violence can have significant negative impacts on their health and wellbeing, education and social connections.
“For some young people, violence can seem normal in intimate and family relationships.
“Violence is not normal, and we want to help young people break the cycle and go on to have healthy relationships.
“Yorgum is an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that has a strong track record of providing services that help to empower young people and families in our community.
“This new program will give hope to young people affected by family and domestic violence and, importantly, help them heal, recover and thrive.”
Comments attributed to Agricultural Region MLC Darren West:
“Violence in the home is never acceptable and this counselling service in Northam is an important step to help protect children and young people and disrupt the cycle of violence.
“The Cook Government is committed to ensuring people who are impacted by family and domestic violence have access to every opportunity to be safe and to rebuild their lives.”
