Bayside Council commits $50,000 for south east Sydney’s first shelter for domestic violence sufferers

THE southeast’s first and only shelter for women fleeing domestic violence will go ahead after the project received $50,000 from Bayside Council.

Bayside Council's Dr Christina Curry, volunteer Lucy Dean, former South Sydney Mayor Vic Smith and Lorin Mulhmann (Clubs NSW) at Mutch Park, Pagewood.

• Campaign begins to open new Randwick domestic violence shelter
• Next step to opening new southeast domestic violence shelter

THE southeast’s first and only shelter for women fleeing domestic violence will go ahead after the project received $50,000 in funding from Bayside Council.

Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) chief executive Annabelle Daniel was jumping for joy after being told her grant application in council’s Stronger Communities Fund had been successful.

“I literally leapt in the air with excitement — I’m absolutely delighted with the result,” Ms Daniel said.

“It’s incredibly heartening to see the community working together with all levels of government to solve this whole of society problem.”

Southern Courier has campaigned for the shelter since October, when WCS teamed with council representative Dr Christina Curry to commit to establishing a service for domestic violence victims with or without children by the end of 2017.

The start of Southern Courier’s campaign for the domestic violence shelter in October 2016.

Dr Curry is chair of the steering committee for the shelter which includes former South Sydney mayor Vic Smith and Lorin Mulhmann from Clubs NSW, alongside locals with expertise in marketing, law, and fundraising.

Dr Curry said the grant would allow the project to move forward quickly.

“I’m really ecstatic and grateful to Bayside Council for it support ... the committee is really enthusiastic and energetic, and this sets us clearly on a path.

“Our next big thing is to find a suitable property, somewhere safe and supportive for the women and children in our community.

“That’s the key now, and I’m sure there’s somebody out there that has the means to either provide or lease a property as victims seek to re-establish themselves — that would be amazing.”

The Bayside Women’s Shelter would house up to six women with or without children at any one time, run on the WCS model.

The steering committee for the new eastern suburbs domestic violence shelter.

Employees would include a qualified manager, a 24-hour rotating roster of staff and security, and case workers to connect victims with services such as doctors, counsellors and legal advisers.

The project was among 11 successful applicants that will receive a total of $500,000 in Stronger Communities funding, including Pagewood Botany FC and South Eastern Community Connect.

Bayside Council Administrator Greg Wright said he was proud to award funds to worthwhile projects.

“Domestic violence is an important issue that people were reluctant to talk about for a long time, and I think it’s about time we recognise it,” Mr Wright said.