The Clarence and Richmond Valleys will each get a new refuge for victims of domestic violence, thanks to new funding from the Nationals in NSW Government, Clarence MP Chris Gulaptis has announced

“The exact locations are confidential for obvious reasons, but the refuges will be operated by a non-government organisation partner with extensive experience in managing housing of this nature,” Mr Gulaptis said.

“These homes are about providing safe, private, and independent living spaces for victim survivors and their children.”

Mr Gulaptis said the two new refuges were among 39 being funded through the largest investment in domestic and family violence supports in NSW history and would provide long-term infrastructure to support women and children escaping domestic and family violence.

Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic Family and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the new refuges delivered under the NSW Government’s Core and Cluster program follows trials in Orange and Griffith.

“These 39 new refuges will be designed in the new Core and Cluster model which is an innovative model that provides independent living and access to critical services such as counselling, legal assistance and further education,” Mrs Ward said.

“Additionally, we have doubled funding for capacity building projects, from $2.2 million to $4.4 million, to support service providers in the delivery of focused and culturally sensitive domestic and family violence services.”