'Groundbreaking milestone': New Peel women's refuge officially open

The therapeutic facility is the first of its kind in Western Australia, providing up to six families at any one time with access to accommodation and personalised counselling delivered by Peel-based trauma specialists Allambee Counselling.

But a further $2 million investment by the state government has enabled an additional six accommodation units to be built at the site over the next 12 months, effectively doubling its capacity.

The service will also offer in-house support for women who may also have alcohol and drug dependencies or mental health concerns.

The $2.5 million centre is set to act as "the next step forward" for women who have already entered crisis care through pre-existing Mandurah domestic violence service OVIS (formerly Pat Thomas House).

Warlang Bidi will also greatly relieve pressure from the already established OVIS facility, which often operates at capacity and is forced to refer those suffering from domestic violence to other refuge centres.

"We are hoping that Warlang Bidi will be full by the end of the year," OVIS chief executive officer Dawn Smith said.

"That will ease some of the strain across the whole sector."

Read more:

Ms Smith said the opening of the facility was a significant achievement for the Peel community.

"We're incredibly excited and quite privileged to start operating Warlang Bidi," she said.

"I think it's really important that we support women and children. We have a vision that women and children can live in a world free of violence and abuse."

The opening of Warlang Bidi marks the end of a lengthy community campaign for a second domestic violence service in the region.

The Mandurah Mail first reported on the need for an additional refuge back in 2018, and Mandurah MP David Templeman said it was a groundbreaking milestone to see it come to fruition.

Read more:

"Sadly domestic violence is a major problem across Australia, and particularly here in the Peel region," he said.

"So to see this facility officially open to our community, it's just fantastic.

"This will be a place where women and children can come and be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and most of all get the help they need.

"This was an election commitment from the McGowan government and I'm extremely proud and happy to be here today."

Prevention of family and domestic violence minister Simone McGurk said Warlang Bidi would act as a prototype for similar services that may be opened around the state in the near-future.

"This is the first therapeutic model refuge we have in Western Australia," she said.

"What's exciting is that what we're able to do with this new refuge is build up an assessment of how we're going in this approach.

"Through this we're building up a good research base to understand exactly what we need to do to stop a cycle of violence."