Domestic and Family Violence Safety Hubs

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (15:25): My question is to the Minister for Human Services regarding women's safety. Can the minister please provide an update to the council on the rollout of domestic violence safety hubs in regional South Australia?

The Hon. J.M.A. LENSINK (Minister for Human Services) (15:26): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her interest in this important area. Last Friday, the Assistant Minister for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention, Carolyn Power, and myself were in Mount Gambier to officially launch The Haven, which is our fourth Women's Information Service-modelled domestic and family violence hub and the sixth hub in the state, located at the Mount Gambier Library.

The hub has been operating since May and, once again, is a model where we put out a call to ask volunteers to be part of this program. They have certainly answered the call and we are very grateful to a number of people who have stepped forward and who have gone through the very comprehensive training put on through the Office for Women and the Women's Information Service so that they can assist people who may be experiencing domestic and family violence.

The model of the hub is at the community library. Once again, there is a safe space there that has been set aside, which has a lot of information and provides discretion for people if they need to take some time to have a discrete conversation or indeed they may need some assistance and support. We are very grateful for the support of the local community. Ms Lynette Martin OAM, who is the Mayor of the City of Mount Gambier, was also there, along with a number of service providers and quite a large contingent from SAPOL.

As far as Mount Gambier is concerned, due credit should be provided to that community. They have participated in a number of White Ribbon events over the years. They are a very close community and a number of people have stepped up. I would particularly also like to acknowledge Ms Susie Smith, who works for Centacare and runs the local domestic and family violence crisis services, and Ms Sonya Mezinec, who I first met as a member of the local Zonta Club when she organised a domestic and family violence conference in Mount Gambier some time ago. She was the project officer who was involved in recruiting approximately 20 volunteers to be involved in this service.

We look forward to people who are experiencing domestic and family violence connecting into services and being provided with more support into the future. This is an important community service that will certainly assist with the aim of moving domestic violence experiences upstream so that people can get support earlier when they need it.