Those impacted by domestic and family violence have a new support base with the opening of the first ever Redlands regional domestic and family violence service – WAVSS Across The Redlands.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams, a long-time advocate for a local domestic violence service, said news of the opening of the Working Against Violence Support Service (WAVSS) followed years of hard work by the local community.
“This is the first regional domestic and family violence service dedicated to the Redlands, which is fantastic news for the community,” she said.
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“The opening of this State-funded service represents more than two years of targeted advocacy by locals including the Redlands Domestic and Family Violence Action Group.
“I would like to thank Member for Cleveland Mark Robinson for his strong advocacy in having the former government invite tenders for this service and the new Queensland Government for delivering the service.”
Cr Williams said unfortunately the need for the service in the Redlands was all too apparent.
“Domestic and family violence can impact all communities, including the Redlands and knowing this service will be operating in our city will provide much-needed support to the community,” she said.
“In 2013-14 the Cleveland and Wynnum Magistrates courts together issued almost 4 per cent of Queensland’s domestic violence orders – that’s more than other areas of comparable size such as Caboolture and Toowoomba.
“Domestic violence is an issue that affects the whole of the country with more than 100 women, children and men dying each year in Australia because of domestic and family violence.”
Working Against Violence Support Service (WAVSS) General Manager Linda-Ann Northey said the State Government funded service was currently operating out of the Cleveland Court while a permanent premises was found.
“The service has been operating for more than 20 years in the Logan area and we are pleased to have been selected as the service provider for the Redlands,” she said.
“We have had the privilege of working across the Redlands’ community over the past four years through our connections at the Cleveland Court and have seen the great work community groups and local agencies are doing.
“The service offers a range of support including free information, court support, counselling, crisis response and perpetrator intervention programs for domestic and family violence.
“It is timely to officially launch the new Redlands service with May being Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month.”
“We have only been operating a short time and already we have seen an obvious need for the service with a steady stream of people making contact.”
More information is available at www.wavss.org.
