Women’s refuge forced to turn away DV victims amid bureaucratic red tape

A Gold Coast women’s shelter is being forced to turn away domestic violence victims amid an overflow of women fleeing for their lives. At the heart of the crisis at the Women, Children and Pet refuge lies bureaucratic hurdles, preventing beds from being used by those in dire need. “I turn away so many every day. 15, 20 a day through Facebook, through Instagram, through email, through text message, through phone calls,” The Sanctuary Women, Children, and Pets Refuge CEO Simone McKeown said. The Sanctuary Women’s Refuge can’t work to its full capacity due to bureaucratic red tape, as three rooms must remain vacant since it doesn’t comply with the Department of Housing. “Why not fund it and help and go, ok, if you weren’t meeting certain compliance steps, what can we do to help you, instead of, if you don’t do it, we shut you down,” Ms McKeown said. Despite a recent boost in funding for domestic violence, the Sanctuary Women’s Refuge has received just $8,000 since opening in 2018 and relies solely on the generosity of donors to keep its doors open. If you or anyone you know needs support: 1800RESPECT 1800 737 732 Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636