A Catholic organisation that helps women fleeing domestic violence in the New South Wales Central West says it is being blocked from applying for extra funding for staff and resources. Source: ABC News.
CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes (CCWF) delivers programs across Western NSW, including in Forbes, where the death of Molly Ticehurst sparked renewed calls for a reform of bail laws and a greater focus on domestic violence support services.
Chief executive Anne-Marie Mioche said the service had been told it could not apply funding from the National Partnership Agreement, which would pay for an additional 148 support workers.
“The money has been made available by the Commonwealth Government and yet we are told we cannot make a bid for it,” Ms Mioche said.
“We need those extra workers and it isn’t an exaggeration to say women’s lives are at risk.”
Ms Mioche said CCWF was told it could not compete for the money because it would be used to boost existing services.
She said the Forbes and Parkes services regularly helped twice as many women and children as they were funded for.
A spokesperson for the NSW Department Communities and Justice said they were not able to provide any more detailed information because an active tender process was underway.
Ms Mioche said CCWF asked the state Government for an explanation but was told the reasons for the decision would not be revealed until after the funding had been allocated.
Instead, the organisation was allowed to apply for money in areas of NSW where it does not provide services.
“They’ve actually offered us such as the Snowy Valley [local government area], where we don’t operate,” Ms Mioche said. “We’ve never been there — we’re in Western NSW.”
She said being able to expand the CCWF workforce would help protect vulnerable women and children.
CCWF is urging the NSW Government to reverse its decision.
FULL STORY
Forbes-based domestic violence support service blocked from applying for extra funding (By Joanna Woodburn, ABC News)
RELATED COVERATE
Forbes DV service to miss out on extra domestic violence workers (CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes)
