“One of the biggest misconceptions in a town like Canberra … is that everybody that wants help is able to get it,” said Elena Roseman, CEO of the Women’s Legal Centre. Photo: Supplied.
The Women’s Legal Centre in Canberra fielded more than 3000 requests for assistance in 2023-24, directly helping more than 1700 women – and the numbers keep climbing.
Chief Executive Officer Elena Roseman said requests for help had surged in recent years, putting the group’s finances under strain.
“We’re consistently seeing requests for assistance from people in the Canberra community increasing and rising,” she said. “In the last three years, we’ve had 50 per cent more calls from women asking for assistance.”
That increase is, in part, a reflection of de-stigmatisation and education programs encouraging women to leave abusive situations, Ms Roseman said.
“There’s lots of reasons that that is happening in the community -and some of them are, I think, positive and to be welcomed,” she said.
“The awareness of domestic and family violence and gender-based violence is increasing, and I think there’s more support for people to actually reach out and get help.”
The Women’s Legal Centre aims to improve women’s lives through specialist legal representation, support and advocacy.
Ms Roseman said dealing with family violence had become increasingly difficult and her organisation was also dealing with other issues, including the cost of living crisis, immigration, and housing.
“Abuse has become a more complex idea to combat, which can include physical violence but is also reflected in controlling behaviour such as housing, and utilities, which are often held over people’s heads to keep them from leaving.”
Ms Roseman said the group’s finances had become strained as they attempted to scale up their operation. She believes there is a misconception that support is easy to access in Canberra.
“I think one of the biggest misconceptions in a town like Canberra … is that everybody that wants help is able to get it, and that services like the Women’s Legal Centre and other frontline services are resourced at a level that matches the rhetoric that we hear from governments,” she said. “Unfortunately, that’s not the case.”
The WLC is just one of a number of charities struggling as the cost-of-living crisis continues to bite. The Salvation Army and Roundabout have also reported shortages of supplies and funds as demand increases.
The WLC is currently holding its end-of-financial-year appeal as it tries to raise money for its work. Ms Roseman said people keen to help could donate money or time.
“You can donate to the centre directly, and you can also donate to many other frontline services,” she said.
“I’d really encourage people to consider donating to the frontline services that are there to support people experiencing domestic and family violence and other forms of gender-based violence.”
The Women’s Legal Centre’s EOFY appeal is currently on. Donations can be made online.
