Help on hand for Northern Rivers women

Vulnerable women living in NSW Northern Rivers region affected by ongoing foods will have access to holistic support to address social, fnancial, and medical disadvantage.

Delivered through more than $1.5 million in Department of Communities and Justice grants, and facilitated through the Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Service (NORWACS), the funding will enable support to be delivered to remote and regional areas across the Northern Rivers through the Women’s Outreach Trauma Health Service (WORTH).

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said as a result of recent foods, many services had been physically destroyed, along with housing and transport, impacting access to essential services by vulnerable groups.

“Social inequalities experienced by women are magnifed during and after natural disasters”, Minister Park said.

“The Northern Rivers region has experienced one emergency after another. First, it was the pandemic, then it was the foods.

“For women and children who have been impacted by domestic violence, these are particularly vulnerable times, with families facing economic pressures and possibly homelessness. That is why the work undertaken by the NORWACS emergency outreach program WORTH is so important.” The rate of domestic violence recorded for the Northern Rivers in the fve years to September 2022 increased by 3.5% per year on average, with Tweed Heads recording the highest fve-year increase at 6.9%.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said domestic and family violence had seen an increase in the years preceding the pandemic and continued to climb across the State.

“Before the foods, domestic violence recorded the highest increases of crime in Lismore for the preceding fve years,” Minister Harrison said. “With research demonstrating gender-based violence towards women increases after natural disasters, without intervention, we fear the Northern Rivers can expect this upward trend to continue.

“This service will ensure that women, especially those escaping domestic violence, who need access to critical services have access to them, when and where they need it.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffn MP said she welcomed the additional funding.

“It will give additional support to women and children who have suffered domestic violence, exacerbated by our years of disasters,” she said. “NORWACS is an organisation committed to support and solutions.”

NORWACS General Manager, Kelly Banister, said NORWACS is committed to providing a tangible, proactive solution to alleviate as much disadvantage as possible while the region rebuilds.

“Even before the foods, research and evaluation and postvention support.

Local crisis supporter Pam Mathieson is excited for the centre reopening. “We have all been affected by last year’s devastating foods and it is great that we can re-establish our crisis support home and be able to continue to help local people.”

Federal Member for Page the Hon. Kevin Hogan MP, State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffn MP and the Mayor of Lismore, Cr. Steve Krieg will all attend tomorrow’s reopening, along with Lifeline Australia CEO Colin Seery and Bundjalung Elder Uncle Gilbert Laurie.

Lifeline Northern NSW will also be showing Lifeline’s the Northern Rivers was one of the highest housing stress areas in the State - so without homes and access to support services, such stress will develop into signifcant mental health challenges for the area and our hospitals,” Mrs Banister said.

60th Anniversary documentary to invited guests after the offcial reopening of the centre and be holding an information session for interested volunteer crisis supporters from midday.

Locals are invited to visit the centre to fnd out more information about becoming a crisis supporter from 12 noon tomorrow.

If you, or someone you know are feeling overwhelmed, we encourage you to connect with Lifeline in the way you feel most comfortable.

You can phone Lifeline to speak to a Crisis Supporter on 13 11 14 (24/7), text 0477 131 114 (24/7) or chat to Lifeline online at www.lifeline. org.au (24/7).

“The Women’s Outreach Trauma Health Service will connect services across health, mental health, domestic violence and housing to support vulnerable women and create better outcomes.”

The outreach program will lead a team of qualifed support workers from NORWACS and partner organisations who will visit communities to engage with local women and identify their needs, provide services and support community access to other services providers.

The initiative will provide relief through specialised women’s health and wellbeing in food-affected communities across the Northern Rivers while physical services are rebuilt.