Wagga Women’s Health Centre president Vickie Burkinshaw is encouraging all who support the centre to sign a petition calling for the reinstatement of its primary prevention funding. Photos: Jarryd Rowley.
NSW Minister for Women and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Jodie Harrison has outlined the reasons the Wagga Women’s Health Centre (WWHC) had its primary prevention funding slashed, saying a competitive field of applicants was to blame.
But the centre’s president is far from convinced and is urging residents to sign an online petition aimed at having the decision reversed.
The community group was recently informed that it would be losing $600,000 worth of funding for its primary prevention campaigns following an unsuccessful bid for the 2025/26 round of grants.
Previous uses of the funding in Wagga went towards several education initiatives organised and operated by the WWHC, including men’s education programs, school education programs, Ngangkari healing services, the Say No to Violence campaign, and the 16 Days of Activism initiative.
“The NSW Government values the important work Wagga Women’s Health Centre does in the domestic, family and sexual violence space,” Minister Harrison said.
“The Primary Prevention Multiyear Partnership Grants were a highly competitive program with many excellent applications submitted, and unfortunately, Wagga Women’s Health Centre’s application was unsuccessful.
“We understand this is a disappointing outcome for the centre and the broader community. We will continue to look at opportunities to support the work of Wagga Women’s Health Centre.”
Ms Harrison’s office also highlighted other initiatives the government has contributed to in Wagga Wagga, such as funding for People with a Disability Australia and other domestic, family and sexual violence programs that operate in the city.
WWHC president Vickie Burkinshaw remained unimpressed.
“I would like to say that it is extremely disappointing that Jodie Harrison’s office has not responded to us directly,” she said.
“Their response does nothing to acknowledge the huge gap left by this funding round in reference to primary prevention for future domestic violence.”
A sizeable crowd gathered outside the Wagga Women’s Health Centre last week to protest against the recent $600,000 funding cut to the centre.
Ms Burkinshaw said other domestic violence funding initiatives did not address primary prevention.
“The recent funding boost to women’s health centres was the first genuine increase to NSW women’s centres since 1986. Wagga received one of the lowest funding increases of all 20 centres across NSW,” she said.
“The People with a Disability Australia Primary Prevention funding is a very niche cohort and not a whole-of-community approach. It has no consistent local footprint; therefore, how will they gain buy-in/trust?
“Regarding domestic and family violence investment in Wagga – the majority of investments are related to support after violence has happened.
“Whilst early intervention funding for RivMed and Centacare is very welcome, it does not encompass a whole-of-community approach to primary prevention (these are targeted programs, i.e. First Nations, child and adolescent).”
Member for Wagga Wagga Dr Joe McGirr said he had spoken with Ms Harrison and would continue to advocate for funding.
“I have made it very clear to the Minister for Women and Prevention of Domestic Violence that the cessation of funding to the Wagga Wagga Women’s Health Centre is a serious mistake, and that funding must be reinstated as soon as possible,” he said.
“The Minister has acknowledged the importance of this major issue to our community, and I look forward to working closely with her to find a solution that will allow the continuation of the centre’s critical work to protect families.
“Quite simply, after seven years of groundbreaking work to reduce domestic violence in our community, the decision to cease funding is not good enough.
“I plan to present a Notice of Motion to Parliament next week, calling for funding to be reinstated as a major priority, and I urge as many community members as possible to sign the WWHC’s petition so the government can be left in no doubt of the urgent need for the centre’s programs to continue.”
Wagga Women’s Health Centre’s petition against the funding cut can be accessed online.
Original Article published by Jarryd Rowley on Region Riverina.
