Domestic and Family Violence Prevention

The Hon. R.B. MARTIN (15:01): My question is to the Attorney-General. Will the minister please inform the council about the new Southern Domestic Violence Prevention and Recovery Hub?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his question and his interest in this area. I am pleased to share with the council that a new domestic violence prevention and recovery hub is being established in Adelaide's south, located within Colonnades Shopping Centre in Noarlunga.

This establishment fulfils a commitment that was made to establish two hubs—in Adelaide's southern and in Adelaide's northern suburbs—that will provide a place of support and solace to women experiencing family, domestic and sexual violence, in this case with this hub in the southern metropolitan area. The hub will be run by Southern Community Justice Services SA as the lead coordinating agency. It has been established through the substantial engagement of key stakeholders in the region, such as the Southern Domestic Violence Action Group.

Part of the stakeholder feedback included the location, with the new hub having been identified as accessible, safe and secure for women whilst also enabling co-location with important services based within and close to the centre. Set to be open for business by the end of the year, the hub will be providing core domestic violence prevention and recovery supports to women in the south, as well as health and counselling services through the existing Yarrow Place and Cedar Health services, both services within the Women's and Children's Health Network.

This establishment is in line with a commitment the then Labor opposition made, having committed to providing $1 million to establish both the southern and northern domestic violence prevention and recovery hubs. There are currently 10 women's safety hubs operating across regional South Australia, so this commitment is a great step forward to furthering the outreach and support for women experiencing family and domestic violence.

I would particularly like to acknowledge and thank Southern Community Justice Services SA, the Can:Do organisation in Noarlunga for the renting of their space and, importantly, the Southern Domestic Violence Action Group and all other stakeholders in getting this hub established and the space secured.