Dawesville MP Kim Hames has announced a grant of $112,228 to Pat Thomas House in Mandurah for a program which will equip women in crisis accommodation with “stay safe” strategies and to educate them about the cycle of family violence.
Pat Thomas House will also work with community groups and local service organisations to brief them on how they might recognise domestic violence and refer victims on to appropriate support services.
“Many of the refuge’s clients only stay there for a few days or a few weeks before returning to an abusive relationship,” Dr Hames said.
“The purpose of the project is to employ a specialist who can work flexible hours and support these clients through a one-off, intensive education process. The specialist will also suggest how they can support their children, who may be demonstrating challenging behaviour as a result of trauma.”
Pat Thomas House provided accommodation to 147 women and 241 children in crisis in 2014/15.
Dr Hames also announced a grant of $173,030 to JSW Training and Community Services to provide intensive case management to young people in the Peel region with significant drug and alcohol-related self-harming and antisocial behaviour.
The purpose of the Peel Youth Engagement Service is to divert young people from criminal and antisocial behaviour by targeting their individual needs, working across multiple settings (family, school, peers) addressing multiple risk factors and providing culturally specific services.
“It is important that as a community we work together to break the cycle of criminal behaviour in our young people,” Dr Hames said.
“Early intervention, the engagement and diversion of young people committing criminal offences and the provision of alternative activities for the positive personal growth of young people are all important steps towards increasing the overall well-being of the whole community.”
The grants to Pat Thomas House Inc and JSW Training and Community Services are part of the latest round of the state government’s Criminal Property Confiscation Grants Program, which provided $3.19 million to 21 local government and non-profit community groups.
For more information go to dotag.wa.gov.au/grants
