Women's organisations in Canberra have come together to call on the next ACT government to prioritise ending domestic, family and sexual violence through providing more funding for specialist services to keep pace with growing demand.
The groups are calling on the government to develop a comprehensive strategy aimed at ending such violence, to make up for funding shortfalls in crisis support and to address an undersupply in social and affordable housing.
The groups are also calling on the next territory government to do more to promote women's health and wellbeing, including an increase in funding for no-cost abortions.
Eight women's sector organisations came together to make the call. The organisations are: the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre, YWCA Canberra, Doris Women's Refuge, Toora Women, Domestic Violence Crisis Service, Women with Disabilities ACT, Beryl Women and Women's Health Matters.
Beryl Women chief executive Robyn Martin said an increase in funding to specialist support services was crucial and support services could not meet the community's demand. She said there was a lack of services to support women and children escaping domestic violence and her organisation did not have the capacity to support everyone they needed to.
"There's a lack of access to services and a lack of support for women and children who are escaping DV and we're turning people away because we don't have the capacity to support every woman who's making contact with us, or other services like social workers from the hospital, police have called at various times look for accommodation from women and their kids," she said.
Ms Martin said extra public housing was also needed as women and children were often forced to stay in the refuge for much longer due to a lack of available housing. She said one of the main issues was a lack of public housing to cater for larger families.
"We've got women who are staying with us for up to three years because they're waiting for public housing and we are crisis service which is three months, that's in our contract and we're not asking women to leave because we'd just be creating another layer of homelessness," she said.
Women's Health Matters chief executive Lauren Anthes said Canberra was a progressive city but there was room for improvement and the government should commit to actions to lift women's overall wellbeing and deliver community services.
"Canberra is a really progressive city in a lot of ways and it should be a place where gender equity is within reach or is really visible."
"It's somewhere where women and gender diverse people should be safe from violence, have equitable access to health services they need and where the work that is being done is being done in a space that's valued.
"But we can see that there are areas for improvement and priority, which is what we're really calling for in the context of platform specific priority areas that we're calling for."
Ms Anthes said the next government should commit to increasing funding for no-cost abortions. The territory government introduced a scheme for free abortions during this term, with funding of $4.6 million over a four-year period.
"It's really important to acknowledge the work of the government in the context of the free abortion policy work they have done and where that has led us but I think it's important to acknowledge that there's more to be done," she said.
"It includes increasing funding for no-cost early medical abortion services to meet the shortfall of funding we have currently got, including funding to manage that policy initiative."
The organisations are also calling on the next government to expand sexual violence prevention and early intervention practices including training and awareness raising. Canberra Rape Crisis Centre acting chief executive Kiki Korpinen said the election was also an opportunity for the next government to better support residents seeking support for complex trauma as a result of sexual violence.
"This election is an opportunity for government to better support and respond to the needs of ACT residents seeking support in relation to complex trauma as a result of sexual violence," she said.
"CRCC acknowledges this important partnership and welcomes the opportunity to continue to work together with the government for the best possible outcomes for victim/ survivors."
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732
