Extra funding for family violence services welcomed

WELLINGTON: Women’s Refuge says extra government funding for family violence services is timely given there will be an increase in demand for months, or possibly years to come.

The Government has announced that in this year’s Budget an additional $202 million will go towards family and sexual violence services.

Woman’s Refuge chief executive Ang Jury said demand during lockdown had increased 35% compared with the same period last year — but she believed the full impact was yet to emerge.

‘‘Increased unemployment, growing emotional and psychological distress along with potential increases in selfmedication will provide fertile ground for family violence,’’ Ms Jury said.

‘‘These conditions are going to be with us for some time and we have to be ready for what’s to come.’’

The funding boost would allow the organisation to retain workers.

Justice undersecretary

Jan Logie said additional support for domestic violence services responding to Covid19 would not end with yesterday’s announcement.

The funding was separate to the additional $15.5 million allocated to the services in March by the Ministry of Social Development, she said.

The Government had continued to monitor the situation for frontline services.

‘‘If we are hearing that the frontline agencies are struggling to respond in the next steps as we move forward, then we’re going to have to be listening to that and have those conversations,’’ Ms Logie said.

Domestic violence could not be ended with one or even three budgets and there was a lot more work still to do, she said.

Sexual violence prevention network Te Ohaakii a Hine also welcomed the Government’s funding boost for family violence services, but urged it to support nongovernmental organisations too.

Te Ohaakii a Hine tauiwi caucus chairwoman Maggy

Tai Rakena said the NGO sector had never been adequately funded; it spent a significant amount of time fundraising instead of helping those in need.

Nga Kaitiaki Mauri spokeswoman Joy Te Wiata said Maori often required highly experienced and skilled assistance.

Until pay equity was addressed, kaupapa Maori services across the sector would continue to struggle to recruit and to meet the growing demand for their services, she said. — RNZ