Working together to keep women and families safe at home in the Pilbara

Names from left: Kariyarra Elder Alfred Barker Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation, Minister Sabine Winton, Natasha Bargeus, MacKillop Family Services’ General Manager, Kariyarra Elder Raylene Button, Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation, and Jessica Farber-McKie, Project Coordinator, MacKillop Family Services.

A new partnership between MacKillop Family Services and Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation will support women and families who have experienced or are currently experiencing family and domestic violence.

Named Kanyjaru Ngarnarna Wapa, the project is part of the state government’s Safe at Home initiative and will provide intensive case management and outreach services to women and families with experience of family and domestic violence.

The Hon Sabine Winton, Minister for Early Childhood Education, Child Protection, Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence, and Community Services visited Port Hedland to launch the program on Wednesday 4 December.

Kanyjaru Ngarnarna Wapa will offer an alternative for women and children who historically have had to access crisis accommodation such as women’s refuges when leaving a violent situation. Perpetrators will be held responsible for their actions and should be accountable for their violence and controlling behaviours, and women and children will be supported to remain at home when it is safe for them to do so.

Kellie Goes, State Director for MacKillop Family Services says the rise in women and children becoming homeless due to family violence means access to services and resources to support them are more important than ever.

“Victims and survivors of family and domestic violence need to have choices and services to support them. Programs like Kanyjaru Ngarnarna Wapa support women and their children to remain in their homes, connected with their community, work and educational ties, and reducing the risks that often come with leaving a violent situation.”

Kellie adds, “We are delighted to work alongside Julyardi to offer this service to local women. It is a new partnership, and we look forward to working together to provide increased safety to women in the Pilbara.”

Raylene Button, Kariyarra Elder and Co-Chair of Hedland Aboriginal Strong Leaders, was at the program launch and said: "Hedland Aboriginal Strong Leaders and Julyardi Aboriginal Corporation are dedicated to providing person centred and safe support for our families.

“Working with MacKillop Family Services to help our families have safe homes is so important to having a strong community. We hope that the leadership and guidance of our Elders will help these families stay safe for our children."

This initiative is part of a $72.6 million funding package to support a range of projects to address family and domestic violence and enabling the expansion of resources to regional areas.

https://www.mackillop.org.au/news/working-together-to-keep-women-and-families-safe-at-home-in-the-pilbara