GOLDFIELDS WOMEN REFUGE LOTTERY GRANT DOES LITTLE TO ABATE CRISIS

Recieving the grant. Image supplied by the Goldfields woman’s refuge.

Last week, the Goldfields Women's Refuge in Kalgoorlie received $450,000 from Lotterywest to go towards six private accommodation units for women fleeing domestic abuse. 

But Goldfields Woman’s Refuge acting CEO Suzie Williams said the organisation requires further resources. 

“We actually would have liked to get eight units, but we only managed to raise enough money for six,” she said.

Ms. Williams said realistically 40 accommodation units were needed to meet the demand presented by the daily number of women seeking refuge from domestic violence.

“We definitely have a consistent referral of about four or five a day, but quite often we’re full and we turn those people away,” she said.

“It’s particularly heartbreaking for myself and for my staff where we’ve got to be in a situation where we’ve got to choose who we can help and who we can’t.”

Do we need more accommodation? Absolutely. Is it going to cover the need that we’ve got currently? No, it’s not it’s a halfway bargain.”