COFFS Coast frontline domestic violence services will benefit from $150,000 in additional funding to ensure victim-survivors can access the help they need as NSW continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

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On Tuesday 24 November, a group of local organisations directly involved in working to combat domestic and family violence gathered at the Coffs Harbour showground to launch Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence.

The launch featured one of two Busways buses that feature a unique full length awareness banner on the side, which will compliment sixteen Council sponsored ‘Coffs says No to Domestic Violence’ banners along the highway in promoting the ‘Domestic Family Violence is Everyone’s Business’ campaign in Coffs Harbour.

Supporting the campaign were senior representatives from all levels of Government, Coffs Clarence Police District, Mid-North Coast Health, Mission Australia, Wesley Mission, Warrina, Bularri Muurlay Nyanggan Aboriginal Corporation and Busways.

The broad range of organisations attending the launch served to underline the strong collaborative approach to the issue that aims to reach all levels of the Coffs Coast community.

Taren Preston, Operations Manager for Warrina Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services said, “It has been a terrible year for family and domestic violence issues in Coffs Harbour, and we need everyone to stand up and speak out to stop it.”

Member for Coffs Harbour Gurmesh Singh said, “Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre will receive the funding boost for the employment of a Domestic and Family Violence counsellor-case manager to address increasing client needs and assist with transition from face-to-face services to technology.”

The funding comes from the COVID-19 Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Grant program which is funded by the Federal Government and allocated by the NSW Government.

The announcement also marks the start of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an annual international awareness campaign that begins on 25 November – the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women – and runs until World Human Rights Day on 10 December.

By David TUNE