Warrawee Women's Refuge receives Lotteries Commission grant

6/11/01
Warrawee Women's Refuge in Fremantle will be refurbished with a $70,355 Lotteries Commission grant to be presented on behalf of the commission by Women's Interests Minister Sheila McHale on Friday.
The women's refuge is operated by the City of Fremantle. It provides accommodation for up to five women and their children in crisis for up to three months.
Staff at the refuge provide residents with counselling, advocacy and assistance in exploring their long-term options.
Warrawee also operates an Outreach Service which provides crisis emotional support, advocacy and referrals to women in the wider community who have been, or are currently experiencing family violence but are not in need of crisis accommodation.
The refuge also receives $276,109 in annual funding from the Department for Community Development.
The refurbishment project will include remodelling of the existing kitchen, new flooring throughout and an upgrade of the laundry and bathroom facilities.
Ms McHale said family violence was an issue that affected and challenged the whole community.
"For example, at Warrawee 47 women and 95 children were accommodated in the six months to June this year," she said.
"Another 30 women received outreach services.
"If we consider that there are more than 30 refuges across Western Australia, the enormity of the challenge family violence presents in our community becomes clear."
The State Government has committed an additional $4.6million over four years to the provision of family violence services.
Media contact: Priscilla Fouracres - 9213 6900