Women and children seeking refuge from family violence in Central Australia will soon have brand new crisis accommodation, thanks to a $6 million grant from the Territory Labor Government.

The grant has enabled the Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia (WoSSCA), formerly the Alice Springs Women’s Shelter, to completely redevelop their existing site with the building of a new 13 room crisis accommodation building with capacity for 30 beds.

It has also facilitated the renovation of existing buildings into a new learning hub to enable the service to offer a new family space, training kitchen, pantry and an art and craft training room.

It also has a women’s space, where women experiencing homelessness can come to have a meal and shower.

The new facility will provide more flexible, family focused accommodation for women and their children in Central Australia who are under immediate threat from domestic violence.

WoSSCA is a secure, 24/7 crisis accommodation provider, that also provides support services for women in Central Australia including outreach support and court support.

At 42 years old, WoSSCA is one of the oldest, independently run family violence services in Australia.

Alice Springs architect Tangentyere Designs won the project design tender, while construction of the new building and the redevelopment of the existing building by local firm Asbuild supported 33 local jobs.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Territory Families, Dale Wakefield.

“For Territory women, domestic, family and sexual violence is the single largest driver for homelessness and a major factor in children entering the child protection and youth justice systems. But it is preventable and there are solutions.

“For 42 years, the Women’s Safety Services of Central Australia has been providing a safe place for women and children in times of crisis.

“Investing in locally-driven services to ensure victims of domestic, family and sexual violence are protected and helped to recover is an important part of the Territory Labor Government’s $6.49m Domestic Violence Action Plan.

“The Territory Labor Government is putting victims first and investing in key areas that will create generational change and break the cycles of family vulnerability, violence and offending.” 

Quotes from WoSSCA Chief Executive, Dianne Gipey.

“Over the past few years, WoSSCA has been transitioning into a model of trauma informed practice and supporting recovery.

“This purpose-built new facility with its semi-independent units and spaces for women and children is the final stage in the jigsaw puzzle to support victims’ healing and recovery.

“We appreciate not only the funding but the Territory Labor Government’s commitment to reduce domestic, family and sexual violence in the Northern Territory.”

Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144