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Women & Children Out in the Cold Again
Under
Embargo until 1.00am, 29 October 2004.
“The
latest data released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
says of the 12,200 homeless people accommodated daily, people with
kids are the ones turned away the most often”
said Ms Pauline Woodbridge,
National Chairperson of WESNET (Women’s Services Network).
WESNET is the peak body for more than 380 women’s domestic
violence support services across Australia.
“This means that it is women and children we are mainly talking
about” said Ms Woodbridge.
“More
than half of the people who need help from Supported Accommodation and
Assistance Programs (SAAP) do not get it and are turned away because
agencies lack resources”
said Ms Woodbridge.
“These
statistics come out at the same time that the Commonwealth government
is dismantling the Office for the Status of Women from the Department
of Prime Minister and Cabinet and downgrading it to the Department of
Family and Community Services”,
said Ms Woodbridge.
According
to Ms. Julie Oberin, Victorian representative on the National WESNET
Committee, “when Mr Howard is
finished with his restructuring women will simply become invisible”.
Ms
Oberin asks “Why is it that
with such an affluent economy where the government can give tax breaks
and cash payouts in the lead up to the election, vital safety net
welfare agencies such as women’s refuges and other SAAP
accommodations services can be so poorly funded that they have to turn
more than half of their adult clients away, and worse.
“Alarmingly 62% of these are children and the main things not
provided for them that they desperately need are counselling and basic
support, said Ms Oberin. “How bad is it that in
Australia, kids in tragic circumstances can’t get counselling or
their basic needs met”.
Ms
Woodbridge says “we need a government which priorities the safety and well-being of
women and children. A
government which supports and provides for all of its citizens
especially those who are victims of violence and disadvantaged in our
society. Don’t leave
women and children out in the cold again Mr Howard” said Ms
Woodbridge.
For
comment please contact:
Pauline
Woodbridge, National
Chairperson, 0419
739
774
Julie Oberin Victorian
WESNET representative, 0419
539
346
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