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Usually hidden behind closed doors, the issue of domestic violence has been thrust into the national spotlight, with the focus now on how to stop it.
The New South Wales government is launching a four-point-four million dollar specialised centre in Western Sydney.
The state's Deputy Premier Prue Car says it's part of the government's long-term plan to eradicate domestic and family violence.
"We cannot seriously do that without making sure that all women, including multicultural and refugee women, many of whom who live in Western Sydney have access to services as well. So, this is just part of what we've announced over the past week. And I'm ecstatic that it's in Western Sydney; it's where it needs to be. As the minister said, it will service women across the state, but the outreach will be in Western Sydney where it needs to be."
The New South Wales Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety will act as a starting point for women from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, connecting them with domestic violence services, settlement services and working with interpreters.
It will also help provide support around financial literacy and counselling.
The centre's director Gulnara Abbasova says the culturally appropriate assistance will be offered in language.
"Navigating a complex service system at the point of crisis is a challenge for anyone doing so. When you're new to Australia, speak little or no English, have no family connections, makes it much harder. On top of that, imagine dealing with cultural stigma, inconsistent responsiveness of services, and significant structural barriers linked to residency. That makes it a terrifying experience. This is where the centre comes in. The centre is a comprehensive model, our focus is on impact and reach. We'll provide direct support to migrant and refugee women, when a woman is referred to the system she can be expected to be supported by a practitioner who can provide a culturally appropriate safety response, and support her navigating the maze of the safety system."
A 2021 survey by Harmony Alliance and Melbourne's Monash University found in Australia One in three refugee and migrant women experience some form of domestic and family violence.
Of those, 91 per cent experienced controlling behaviours.
And 42 per cent experienced physical or sexual violence.
Alliance council member Rana Ebrahimi says access to specialised support varies.
"So that's another finding of the study that we have done actually. It's quite different in each state and territory and that's another factor which is affecting the vulnerability of women in these areas. But, also we celebrate the new practice in Sydney and we hope that it's expanded to other states and territories."
40 per cent of the temporary visa holders surveyed say they'd experienced domestic and family violence.
Women's Legal Service chief executive Nadia Bromley says this makes residency status a crucial factor, particularly for women on temporary visas.
"They face additional threats and additional susceptibility to control from people using violence. So the kind of threats we see being offered against women, either they'll be deported or they'll be separated from their children or forced to leave the country, for example, without their children. So, it's a really invidious place for these women to be in who are already powerless and struggling, that they just have another systemic barrier to overcome."
Ms Bromley says they also face additional challenges when seeking assistance.
"As well as the language barriers, as well as the complexities of the legal system, and as well as recovering from the trauma of domestic violence, they have such limited access to services, so a lot of them do not have access to Centrelink, so they can't get the therapeutic support. They, they don't have Medicare, so they can't get healthcare or responses to any injuries or difficulties they need addressed."
Barriers for already vulnerable women.
