The communal model of shelter offered to women fleeing domestic violence in NSW needs to change. It would need to change even if the state government hadn't caused major disruption to women's refuges with its poorly thought-out Going Home, Staying Home policy, but now the policy is in place the need is even sharper.
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The communal model of women's refuges with shared kitchens, bathrooms and living spaces is a product of the 1970s and arrived at with good intention. In theory it offers women the opportunity to share their experiences with others in the same situation and to gain support from them.
But many women find the shared spaces noisy and alienating. Traumatised children not only have to adjust to living in a strange place but also with strangers.
And now that Going Home, Staying Home requires refuges to offer places to all homeless women, not just victims of family violence, many women may find themselves living in close quarters with others who have very different life experiences and needs.
Advocacy group SOS Women's Services has proposed the state government move away from communal accommodation to self-contained units. It has suggested four pilot sites where existing facilities can build the new-style accommodation.
Phasing out communal refuges was a key recommendation of Victoria's Royal Commission into Family Violence and Victoria is committed to it, at a cost of $70 million. The cost in NSW is estimated to be larger.
Since applying the shock therapy of Going Home, Staying Home, the NSW government has been working to restabilise the refuge sector. Endorsing the conversion of communal refuges to self-contained units statewide and starting work on the four sites suggested by SOS would continue this positive trajectory. It would properly support the changed nature of many refuges, which the government's own policy has forced.
But it would still put the Baird government behind the Victorian government in adequately funding and modernising our response to domestic violence. Demand has never been higher. Nor has the public's desire to see real change.
The Andrews government has pledged an unprecedented $572 million over two years to the under-funded sector ($500 million in new money). If the Baird government is serious about tackling domestic violence, it needs acknowledge the true need for services and fund them accordingly.
Ben Smyth
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
I have worked as a journalist since 2005 and am now Editor of Australian Community Media mastheads in Bega, Merimbula and Eden
