Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge is the only DFV specialised Crisis Accommodation Service in the Barkly region.
We are committed to working in partnership with community members and organisations to address community identified priorities.
We are currently funded to provide
- Crisis Accommodation, support, referrals , case management and outreach – for any women and their children who are victims of or at risk of Domestic or family Violence.
- Domestic Violence Counselling Service including Community Education – for any women.
- Critical Intervention Outreach Service – outreach support and case management for Indigenous Women at Risk of DFV and their children– who are in Community.
- ER Funding for Families in Crisis – Food Vouchers/ Power Cards/ Material Aid/ Transport Assistance to escape DFV.
Our Clients are predominantly Aboriginal Women and their children (97-98%) however our services are available to any woman in the community without discrimination.
The demographics of the Barkly are that 60% of our population is Aboriginal and 25% of our population under the age of 17.
The Barkly is characterised by a highly mobile population and overcrowded accommodation. There has been no new public housing built in 30 years and wait lists are many years long even on priority.
Culturally appropriate Prevention and early intervention programs are required to ensure that children have the best chance of meeting their developmental needs at the most critical early years are vital to the future health of this community. We are seeing the results of years of neglect, abuse and exposure to violence – manifested in behavioural problems and violence in our childcare, primary school and high school aged students and an over representation of indigenous youth in the criminal Justice System.
The TCWR clients are predominantly Aboriginal – (98%) many of whom have been child clients themselves and or their mothers and grandmothers have been victims of Violence.
Ongoing exposure of children to Violence perpetuates the intergenerational cycle of Violence and abuse that has become normalized here in the Barkly Region. The demographics of this community is that we have 25% of our population under the age of 17 – and growing fast. In the context of the Refuge most child clients have been witness to Domestic and Family Violence and it has become all to evident that to change the cycle we must have workers who are dedicated, trained and prepared to work intensively with these clients and their family to provide better support and services tailored to their needs.
This work is not easy and requires intensive support to mothers to ensure that children overcome the barriers of trauma, itinerant lifestyles, neglected medical needs, poor diet and hygiene and disengagement with education. On top of this many children may have developmental and behavioural issues caused by exposure to violence, FASD and general lack of bonding and trusting relationships from birth.
The Refuge has a policy of employing local indigenous workers who can provide support at the Refuge or through an outreach approach and have a wealth of local community knowledge and established networks.
We provide comprehensive (wrap around) trauma informed case management, counselling, support and referrals for our clients to meet their complex needs. ER Funding is used for clients in crisis and is often required for women and children to meet their basic needs for food and power – our most common requests. It is also used for transport (bus tickets) to relocate clients to other towns where they may have more support, help them access hostel accommodation or to start a new life away from Violent partners.