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ISSUE 14 | May 2022
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Vital support for those in need DALLAS SHERRINGHAM NEW centre providing support to women, children and families has opened in Blacktown and will be vital in addressing a massive increase in ‘relationships’ services demand. Relationships NSW recorded a staggering 5200% increase in demand for its services across Western Sydney. The centre will deliver counselling, dispute resolution, relationship education, domestic violence and children’s support services for people in need. Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said. The centre would ensure the people of Blacktown and Western Sydney had access to the help and support they need, especially in times of crisis. “The difficulties presented by the global pandemic over the past few years have been particularly challenging for many people, including women in Western Sydney,” Ms Ward said “We want to ensure when people reach out for help, the support is there and it’s
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Opening of the Rekationshiops NSW Centre.
fantastic that Relationships Australia NSW is helping provide the care and assistance these communities need. “The NSW Government is pleased to support services that partner with communities to ensure family wellbeing and women’s safety. “This is a priority for the NSW Government, which is why we have commit-
ted a record $687m over four years in the 2021-22 NSW Budget to this important issue.” RANSW CEO, Elisabeth Shaw said the Blacktown centre would provide critically important support to Western Sydney residents in need. “With the huge increase in demand we’ve experienced over the past three
years, some of our clients in Western Sydney are waiting an average of 118 days for an appointment,” Ms Shaw said. “The pandemic has created many challenges for Australians and as a result, there has been a significant increase in demand for our services. “It is excellent to see so many people reaching out for help – but it’s important we have the capacity o provide help when it is needed – and this new Blacktown Centre will allow us to do that. “Blacktown represents a diverse, young and confident Australia, and we are excited to build on our existing presence in the area and contribute to the social wellbeing of the community. “One of Blacktown’s great strengths is its vibrant multiculturalism, which is why we will deliver a number of services in different languages, including Arabic, Tamil and Fars-Dari,” Ms Shaw added. RANSW offers individually tailored support to people of all cultural backgrounds, family structures, age and life stage, gender and sexual orientation. For more information on RANSW’s services, visit www.relationshipsnsw.org.au
Nora and Max popular baby names ORA and Maxwell surged up the baby name popularity charts in 2021 in a rollercoaster year marked by vaccines, variants and lockdowns. Attorney General Mark Speakman and Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said NSW welcomed 90,059 babies
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last year up just 14 on 2020. The top 100 names account for 38 and 42 per cent of all names given to girls and boys respectively in 2021, compared with the 2020 figures of 37 and 41 per cent, this suggests a slight increase in parents choosing more popular names. However, approximately two-thirds of all
names given to babies born in NSW for each of the past five years are a unique name, not shared with anyone else in that year. To find out more, visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/ births/popular-baby-names
