Domestic violence aid
Cairns RizeUp start to help fleeing families
PROVIDING victims fleeing domestic violence with a comfortable and safe place to live is the aim of charity RizeUp Australia, which has launched in Cairns.
The Brisbane-based charity is recognised by the Queensland Government as an official exit strategy support service and has provided more than 470 families with fully furnished and finished homes.
Having just officially launched, the group has a long way to go to start providing support to the domestic violence services in the region.
Chief executive Nicolle Edwards said RizeUp needed Cairns-based volunteers to assist with setting up homes.
“When families are exiting refuge, they go up with nothing,” she said.
“We want to make sure when they move into a new place that the children have beds and there’s food in the pantry.”
RizeUp will liaise with existing domestic violence shelters, Women’s Centre FNQ and the Cairns Regional Domestic Violence Service.
CRDVS chief executive Amanda Lee-Ross said RizeUp would work as a point of referral for Cairns’ existing network of domestic violence services.
“I think everyone’s really excited about that, it gives us a chance to offer far more to clients than ever before with their help,” she said.
“If we have a client who had to escape, we don’t always have funds to kit out a house with bedding or food, that’s where they come in.
“I think they’ve got a bit of work to do to get volunteers going, they haven’t been operating here up to now.”
Ms Edwards said RizeUp would need about six local volunteers to get the ball rolling in Cairns.
“We put our volunteers through extensive onboarding process involving police checks, since we’re dealing with vulnerable people,” she said.
“Anyone can volunteer, there’s no qualifications, you just have to be motivated.”
To find out more about volunteering with RizeUp or to register your interest, email volunteer@rizeup.com.au
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