Funding for DV services to tackle ‘abominable’ issue

The under-the-pump family violence support sector says a sizeable funding boost feels like a warm blanket.

Some $184 million was carved out of NSW’s budget to bolster more than 90 specialist services, as the government tackled what it called one of the biggest social challenges facing the state.

Representatives from the sector said the extra money would help reduce waitlists and ensure more staff were on the ground to intervene and provide support earlier.

In his budget speech, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey referenced family violence service Liberty, based in Port Macquarie, on the NSW mid north coast.

Liberty, which arranges crisis accommodation and housing support among other services, was funded to support 440 women in 2025/26.

“(The) team actually supported 1600 victim-survivors, by scraping together donations, through goodwill, through workers driving hundreds of kilometres every day to meet families who had nowhere else to turn,” Mr Mookhey said.

Liberty chief executive Kelly Lamb said community support had been incredible, but extra funding was needed to avoid the strained sector reaching breaking point.

“A worker sitting in front of a woman making a decision about her safety on the basis of funding is absolutely abominable,” Ms Lamb said.

“We need to make sure we’re making decisions based on safety … this investment into the service system will allow the frontline team to be very focused on the woman in front of them.”

Domestic Violence NSW chief executive Delia Donovan agreed investment was necessary to stop a system from falling apart.

“For too long, these services have carried the burden of underinvestment through unpaid hours, fundraising, and doing whatever it takes to keep people safe,” she said.

“(This) investment recognises both the value of that work and the need to sustain it.”

It’s estimated about 80,000 women and children rely on the NSW support services every year.

“Services are full, waitlists are long, and workers have no time left to give,” Mr Mookhey said.

“In any given fortnight, more than a third of services must turn away someone asking for help.”

The funding included $76 million for co-ordinated support for victim-survivors, along with $54 million to help women and children remain safe in their homes after violence has occurred.

About $19 million went towards men’s behavioural change programs.

The budget also boosted funds for frontline policing, including $94 million for an Australian-first specialist armed response command.

The government also spent $109 million on technology upgrades for NSW Police, and $43 million over 10 years to strengthen the state’s firearms registry.

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