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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 1464 asked in the Legislative Council on 14 August 2018 by Hon Alison Xamon

Question Directed to the: Leader of the House representing the Minister for Child Protection; Women's Interests; Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence; Community Services
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

I refer to young women between 14 and 18 years of age seeking refuge from family and domestic violence, and I ask:
(a) how many Western Australian refuges accept young women in this age group;
(b) how many beds are available to this cohort on any given night; and
(c) how many of these beds are located in regional areas?

Answered on 11 September 2018

(a) Refuges provide supported and/or safe accommodation to women, with or without accompanying children, who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness as a result of family and domestic violence or other crisis. The Department of Communities currently manages contracts with 38 refuges. While the primary client group for refuges is women over 18 years with or without children escaping family and domestic violence, services are flexible in their approach to accommodate younger women under 18 years, if they have capacity.

In addition, Rise Network Inc’s Kira House Refuge (Kira House) located in the metropolitan area specifically provides accommodation to young women between 14 and 18 years of age, with or without children, escaping family and domestic violence.

(b) On any given night, Western Australian refuges can provide crisis accommodation to 37 single women and 174 families across Western Australia who are experiencing family and domestic violence. As per part (a), some of these women may be between 14 and 18 years of age.Of these beds, Kira House can provide accommodation to six young women between 14 and 18 years of age and their children.

(c) In regional areas, there is capacity to accommodate 87 families who are experiencing family and domestic violence. As per part (a), some of these women may be between 14 and 18 years of age.