An additional funding boost of $100,000 will enhance the capacity of the Nhulundu Health Service’s Family Wellbeing Program. The investment from the Queensland Government Department of Child Safety Youth and Women will provide a temporary specialist domestic and family violence worker. This new role will help in responding to the needs of clients affected by domestic and family violence, prioritising the safety of victims and their children.

In March this year the Prime Minister announced $150 million to help support Australians experiencing domestic and family violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of this, Queensland services will receive $5 million, including $2.7million to fund these new roles for existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Wellbeing Services.

Nhulundu Health Service CEO, Matthew Cooke, welcomed the funding announcement. “This will enable us to expand our Family Wellbeing Program to help support vulnerable people and families,” he said. “In particular those in our community who may have been impacted by the recent COVID-19 isolation measures.”

Effective immediately, the funds will be made available over a ten month period to employ a domestic and family violence worker. The role will provide specialist advice and assistance to existing Family Wellbeing Service staff, undertake risk assessments and develop referral pathways to specialist support services in the catchment area.

Mr Cooke said he hoped to commence recruitment activities shortly to allow a domestic and family violence worker to begin delivering services no later than August.