CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes has welcomed the New South Wales Government’s announcement of an extra $184.1 million for domestic and family violence programs in this week’s state budget to help keep more women and children safe.
CCWF is the largest provider of domestic and family violence services in western NSW, working across a regional and remote area of more than 400,000 square kilometres.
CCWF chief executive officer Anne-Marie Mioche said the extra funding – a 50 per cent increase to be phased in across four years – for six frontline specialist programs was recognition of the scale of the need for support for women and children.
“Domestic and family violence occurs at unacceptable levels,” Ms Mioche said. “Like all providers, we are experiencing rising demand for support.
“This budget announcement shows that Premier Chris Minns and Minister Jodie Harrison have listened to the sector about the challenges of supporting victims to safety and healing.”
Ms Mioche said this week’s announcement built on other significant initiatives, including funding for more permanent crisis beds, to benefit women and children escaping domestic and family violence and other groups most affected by homelessness, as well as an investment to deliver new refuges across NSW.
CCWF is a provider of four of the six programs earmarked for extra funding: the Staying Home Leaving Violence, Men’s Behaviour Change, Domestic Violence Response Enhancement and Specialist Workers for Children and Young People programs at various locations across western NSW.
The Far West and Orana region had the highest rate of domestic violence assault in the 12 months to December 2025 (1502.4/100,000 population), more than three times the rate for NSW, Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research figures released in March show.
“We look forward to hearing how this increased funding will affect our organisation,” Ms Mioche said.
“We have long argued regional and remote NSW needs a fairer share of funding, given the vulnerability of our population, the high rates of domestic violence, and the complexity of working in regional and remote areas.”
FULL STORY
CatholicCare Wilcannia Forbes welcomes extra funding for domestic violence services (CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes)
