FUNDING has been extended to continue delivering specialist support to children and young people who accompany their mothers to women’s refuges in Lismore.
The Minns Labor Government has invested $48.1 million to expand and extend the Specialist Workers for Children and Young People (SWCYP) program, ensuring 21 existing contracts have funding certainty to June 2026, and a further 10 contracts receive new SWCYP funding.
One of these extended services is the Northern NSW Homelessness Support Service for Women Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence.
Since it launched in 2022 the service has provided significant support to vulnerable women and children across LGAs including Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Tweed, with support through the SWCYP program.
Under the expansion, SWCYP will now also cover the Northern NSW Homelessness Support Service for Aboriginal Women Experiencing Domestic and Family Violence, across the same LGAs.
Both services are led by Momentum Collective.
The SWCYP program provides a path to recovery for children and young people from 0 to 18 years of age, staying in refuges with their mothers after escaping domestic and family violence.
Under this program, children and young people are recognised as victim-survivors in their own right and offered holistic, trauma-informed and preventative support.
Specialist workers develop an individualised support plan for each child or young person to help break the pattern of violence and prevent intergenerational trauma.
The $48.1 million boost to the SWCYP program forms part of the NSW Government’s $245.6 million emergency package to reduce the rate of violence against women and children in NSW.
Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said:
“Domestic and family violence can have a devastating impact on children and young people, whether they have witnessed or directly suffered abuse.
“This early intervention program run by Momentum Collective works to disrupt the cycle of violence and empowers children and young people to build a future free from violence.”
Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:
“Extending and expanding this program means 1,800 children and young people will now have access to support from more than 55 specialist workers in 32 refuges across regional and metropolitan NSW every year.
“This investment is crucial and will provide life-changing assistance for children and young people as they recover from past trauma.”
