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Health | September 28, 2022

Orange Door facility a starting point but more needs to be done

Member for Lowan and Deputy Leader of the Nationals Emma Kealy believes that while a new Orange Door facility in Horsham is a good start, more needs to be done to support survivors of family violence in the local area.

Orange Doors are free services for adults, children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced family violence.  It is a ‘one stop shop’ service designed to make it easier for people to seek help and support earlier.

Speaking after the official opening today, Ms Kealy said the Andrews Labor Government’s original footprint for the Orange Door network had completely missed the Wimmera region.

“It’s been a massive joint local effort over the past six years in advocating for desperately needed support for survivors of family violence in our local area, and I’m proud that these local voices have been heard with our very own Wimmera Orange Door opening today,” she said.

“We have some of the highest rates of family violence in the state and I have long advocated for a support and safety hub in Horsham, writing several times to the Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence calling on the Andrews Labor Government to immediately provide funding for an Orange Door facility in Horsham.

“The Wimmera Orange Door is a starting point to ensure survivors can get the support they need after violence has occurred, but we also need to ensure there is far better access to emergency housing, with a current wait time of over 16 months.

“This situation means many of our local women and children are having to move away to emergency accommodation in Ballarat or Warrnambool or beyond which is only adding further stress at an incredibly difficult time.”

Ms Kealy said it was wonderful to see domestic violence survivor Simone O’Brien open the new facility – a worthy acknowledgement of her tireless advocacy for domestic violence prevention.