Federal government commits $6.1m to children’s trauma centre Grace’s Place

Just weeks after the State Government pledged $3.3 million to help build the a world-first children’s trauma centre in Doonside, the Federal Government has made a multimillion-dollar commitment.

A $10 million trauma recovery centre for children to be built in Doonside has received a $6.1 million commitment from the Federal Government. Pictured: An artist’s impression of Grace’s Place.

• Construction to begin on Grace’s Place after $3.3 million boost
• Celebrate Blacktown history when historic St Bartholomew’s church opens its doors

A world-first children’s trauma recovery centre to be built in Doonside and named in honour of Anita Cobby’s mother has received a $6.1 million boost from the Federal Government.

The multimillion-dollar pledge for Grace’s Place follows a state commitment of $3.3 million to go towards the building of the residential recovery centre for children affected by homicide.

The centre will be named in honour of homicide victim Anita Cobby’s mother, Grace Lynch, and will provide accommodation and support programs for up to 12 children recovering from the murder of a parent. Driving the project is the Homicide Victim’s Support Group (HVSG).

An artist’s impression of a play area at Grace’s Place, Doonside.

Health Minister Greg Hunt and Banks MP David Coleman visited the Doonside site on March 29 to announce the funding, as allocated in the government’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO).

Mr Hunt said the centre would be a safe place for children and their carers.

“Each year, an average of 129 people are victims of domestic or family homicides in Australia. A small number may also be affected by homicide in other circumstances,” Mr Hunt said.

“We have an ongoing commitment to support the mental health of Australians.”

Anita Cobby’s sister Kathryn Szyszka and Homicide Victim’s Support Group executive director Martha Jabour have long campaigned for Grace’s Place.

HVSG executive director Martha Jabour said the combined state and federal funding commitment of $9.4 million, along with money raised through community fundraising, meant work could begin on the $10m build.

Ms Jabour said it was hoped the centre would be open by June 2021.

Efforts will now focus on raising funds to cover the cost of the centre’s fit-out, as well as ongoing running costs.

She said work was already underway on the site.

“Preliminary work is being done already and we have remediation of the land starting in about six to eight weeks. Right now, we’re getting utilities sorted like the NBN, plumbing and electricity, so work is underway,” Ms Jabour told the Blacktown Advocate.

She said it was fitting that Grace’s Place be built in Doonside in honour of Anita Cobby’s parents Grace and Garry Lynch.

An artist’s impression of a waiting area at Grace’s Place, Doonside.

“The reason we wanted it built there is because the community of Blacktown has embraced the whole story of Anita Cobby since the beginning,” she said.

“A lot of people invested a lot of negative energy into what happened to Anita Cobby, so this is our way of saying that something good is going to come out of Anita’s terrible death.”

Speaking after the announcement, Anita Cobby’s sister Kathryn Szyszka said the multimillion-dollar commitment was the result of decades of hard work on behalf of the Grace’s Place Committee and the HVSG.

The centre will be named in honour of Anita Cobby’s mother, Grace Lynch, who, with her husband Garry, established the Homicide Victim’s Support Group in 1993.

“It’s just a relief because we have been pressing for funding for so long, so it was very joyful to know our commitment is paying off,” Ms Szyszka said.

“We’ve always been told it’s a no-brainer, a necessity, to have something like this built.

“It’s a lovely community project and a positive thing for the Blacktown community.”

Once complete, the centre will cater for children from across Australia and the globe.

The third Anita Cobby fundraising dinner is scheduled to take place in November 2019, with funds raised to assist in the ongoing running costs of the facility.