Domestic and Family Violence
02nd June 2026
Last February in this House I raised the issue of specialist domestic and family violence services and specialist homelessness services in the Hunter being overrun, with need far outpacing the availability of services. The situation has not improved. Domestic Violence NSW reports many specialist domestic and family violence services across New South Wales are being pushed beyond breaking point, with two in three victim‑survivors who seek help unable to be assigned to a caseworker. Most of those victim-survivors are mothers with children. We cannot ignore the awful reality that domestic and family violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and the leading form of child maltreatment in Australia. The 2023 Australian Child Maltreatment Study reported that a shocking 39.6 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 65 had been exposed to domestic violence, including physical violence between parents, serious threats of domestic violence, damage to property or pets, and intimidation or control.
Given the pervasiveness of domestic and family violence in our community, it comes as no surprise that its impacts are profound and far-reaching. It undermines a person's physical, emotional, psychological and financial health, and can drive them into homelessness and, tragically, even to an untimely death. Last year 32 people were killed as a result of domestic violence, including 14 women and six children. That is simply unacceptable. Domestic and family violence also has broad systemic impacts that come at a cost to the State, which Domestic Violence NSW has estimated to be in the order of $8 billion per annum. It includes the direct impact on health, justice and social systems, as well as costs to productivity, workplace absenteeism, and as a result of pain, suffering and premature mortality. Put simply, the cost for individuals, families, communities and the State is too high.
I am not here to educate members on something they do not already know. I know every member in this place is well-versed in how domestic violence impacts their community. But this knowledge has somehow not translated into properly funding the specialist services that people need to prevent, escape and recover from domestic and family violence. Domestic Violence NSW reports that despite the rising rate of domestic and family violence, there has not been a core funding increase for specialist domestic and family violence services contracted by the New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice in any State budget in over a decade. Right now, it does not have the resources to provide life-saving support to people in need.
The upcoming State budget is an opportunity for the New South Wales Government to correct this imbalance. Domestic Violence NSW, which represents around 200 domestic and family violence services in New South Wales, is calling for a 50 per cent increase in core funding so that frontline services can meet demand. Additional core funding means more culturally safe and trauma-informed frontline workers, shorter waitlists, and more specialist support to address the complex needs of children and young people. A 50 per cent increase comes to $177.4 million in the next financial year and represents just a fraction of the State budget of around 0.1 per cent. That investment would help address the $8 billion cost of domestic and family violence to New South Wales and save lives in the process.
I acknowledge the commitment and expertise of just some of the frontline domestic and family violence and homelessness services in Lake Macquarie, including Nova for Women and Children, Jenny's Place, Carrie's Place and Got Your Back Sista. I also acknowledge organisations supporting victim-survivors such as Survivors R Us; NourishEd; Community Reach Australia, formerly Southlakes Inc; Wyee Community Hub; Macquarie Care; the Salvation Army; and CALM. I also recognise the New South Wales Government's commitment to addressing domestic and family violence in Lake Macquarie by funding two core and cluster refuges, with a culturally safe space being built by Aboriginal-led organisation Wandiyali and the other being delivered by Housing Plus in partnership with Jenny's Place.
More needs to be done to address years of chronic underfunding, the current rate of need and burnout experienced by dedicated domestic and family violence service staff. This Government must also consider the gaps in services supporting victim-survivors. In Lake Macquarie, this includes more support and services, including public housing to counter rising homelessness. I call on the Government to boost core funding for specialist domestic and family violence services. Every day these services are underfunded is another day vulnerable lives are at risk.