Domestic and Family Violence support services recognised by Southern Downs Regional Council

A Southern Downs women’s advocacy group has been awarded for their tireless efforts in lobbying the state and federal government to provide support services for vulnerable women in the region.

A hard working trio of women continuing to push for state and federal government support services to assist vulnerable women has been commended by Southern Downs Regional Council.

Womens Advocacy and Action Team Southern Downs was founded in 2021 by Kathy Payne, Sue Hamlet and Judy Hefferan, after they became concerned about the lack of safety and support services available for women and children in the region.

Their efforts were acknowledged as part of council’s volunteer recognition program during the ordinary meeting in Warwick on Monday, July 24.

Ms Payne said the trio was incredibly humbled and thankful by council’s recognition and appreciation of their efforts in campaigning for women’s outreach services to Warwick and the surrounding communities.

(L) to (R) Southern Downs mayor Vic Pennisi, Sue Hamlet, councillor Jo McNally and Kathy Payne at council’s ordinary meeting on Monday, July 24.

“We were very surprised by the award and are very thankful to council for recognising domestic and family violence support services in the region,” Ms Payne said.

“When councillor McNally presented the award she called us an unassuming group, which means so much because that’s exactly what we are. We’re not in it for the praise.”

The lack of a neighbourhood centre in Warwick was one of the driving forces behind the women’s mission to maker Southern Downs a safer community for women experiencing domestic violence.

“There were no doors to knock on for women in Warwick, everything was a number to call for help and now they have real people to speak to and a safe place to come to,” she said.

A recent achievement for the community group has been enlisting the support of the Office of Women and Violence Prevention to implement an integrated service response to DFV within the Southern Downs region.

Domestic violence support service Protea Place will open a Warwick location on Monday, July 31, thanks to the work of a number of Southern Downs support groups and Protea Place founder Amanda Dalton.

While presenting the award Southern Downs councillor Jo McNally commended the women, referring to them as an unassuming group of three professional women who are passionate changemakers for the Southern Downs.

Earlier this year the state government were successful in establishing the Domestic and Family Violence Protection (Combating Coercive Control) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2023 and is continuing its efforts to pass and recognise coercive control as a stand-alone criminal offence in Queensland.