By Belinda Nolan
WOMEN’S Health West has established a 24-hour crisis response service in a bid to aid victims of domestic violence.
Staggering new figures show increasing numbers of women are seeking help for domestic violence in the West, with more than 12,000 helped by the organisation last financial year.
Figures published in Women’s Health West’s annual report have revealed the crippling extent of the region’s domestic violence crisis.
Between 2009-2010 the not-for-profit organisation saw 12,099 abused women as part of its intake programs.
Domestic violence workers responded to more than 2100 phone calls for help, almost 500 more calls than in the previous year.
The service also received more than 1600 police referrals, with 573 from Brimbank alone, the highest of any western suburbs municipality.
The city had the highest number of clients overall, followed by Wyndham, Melton and Hobsons Bay. Sadly, the struggling women were accompanied by more than 5000 children.
Domestic violence workers expect the trend to increase, with demand for services already outstripping supply.
Last financial year, the organisation provided assistance to 634 women across the Sunshine, Werribee and Melbourne Magistrates’ courts – more than eight times its annual target.
Meanwhile, face to face support for women and children in crisis doubled from 95 to 191 in 2009-10.
Women’s Health West CEO Robyn Gregory told Star the organisation had established a 24-hour crisis service to cope with increasing after hours demand.
Ms Gregory said the service was already taking in staggering numbers of clients.
“Women in crisis are now getting a much more immediate response and it has already made such a difference,” Ms Gregory said.
Ms Gregory said the West had the second highest reported incidents of family violence in the state, a “scary” statistic.
Ms Gregory said poverty, disadvantage and living stresses contributed to the West’s family violence crisis.
But she said the rising statistics were also driven by an increasing public awareness and the confidence of women in reporting the crime.
Brimbank Police Inspector Michael Grainger said the city had one of the highest number of referrals for service in the state.
Insp Grainger said police would be boosting numbers in its family violence unit to cope with growing numbers of reports.
Women’s Health West is holding a forum on the prevention of violence against women today at the Sunshine Golf Club.
