Rouse Hill Town Centre shopping centre opens safe room for domestic violence victims
A ‘safe room’ for victims of domestic abuse has been set up at Rouse Hill Town Centre Shopping Centre to enable women at risk to discreetly access help and advice.
Hills Shire
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A ‘safe’ room for victims of domestic abuse has been set up in Rouse Hill Town Centre shopping centre to enable women at risk to discreetly access help and advice.
The initiative, by the Lisa Harnum Foundation, is the second in the area.
In 2017 the foundation set up a safe room at Castle Towers shopping centre.
Women are met at the safe room with a trained caseworker who can offer support, information, transitional housing and referrals to other services.
Lisa Harnum Foundation executive director Aileen Mountifield said the idea is a first in Australia.
“I had the idea a few years ago because I felt women were reluctant to access services,” she said.
“This gives them a safe space that is private and confidential, there is no signage and no windows.
“They are just at a shopping centre so if someone sees them they don’t have disclose what they are doing.”
Ms Mountifield said domestic violence operates at many levels and for many women the abuse can be about control.
“We need to be very aware that women can be followed if they are in a very controlling relationship,” she said.
“Their partner will want to know where they are going, why are they going there and who did they meet.”
She described the time when a woman chooses to leave a violent relationship as “the most dangerous time”.
“There is a loss of power and control and so things often escalate after that,” she said.
Ms Mountifield said the safe room in Castle Towers shopping centre had been “very successful”.
To contact the Lisa Harnum Foundation call 1300 732 848.