It was announced in 2014 that the Lake Illawarra Family Violence Service Support (LIFVSS) would cease as part of the State Government’s “It Stops Here” reforms. The reforms aim to centralise DV services by making information available across all agencies, such as police, health and housing.

Under the reforms it was decided that LIFVSS would discontinue operating out of the current site at Lake Illawarra Police Station from July 2015 and roll into Wollongong Women’s Information Service (WWI), which manage LIFVSS. 

Last December Shellharbour councillor Kellie Marsh and Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced that a funding extension was secured to keep the service afloat until July 2016.

However, last week LIFVSS officer Michelle Trenga said “to her surprise” she was advised by Family and Community Services (FACS) that she would no longer be stationed at Oak Flats police station but instead work out of WWI in an “educational” type role. The change is set to take place as of July 2015.

‘‘It’s just devastating,” Ms Trenga said, “Lake Illawarra has been number one on the list of DV rates for a long time now,’’ she said.

‘‘We have more than 300 victims a month that we ring and support. We take a lot of pressure off the police, in terms of being able to provide that vital immediate support for victims.

“What this will mean is that victims won’t be able to walk into the station and see someone other than a police officer and a lot are afraid to see police because they aren’t quite ready to report it.

“A victim who doesn’t know their options, often feel like there is no way ahead, other than to go back. When they walk away with options they feel empowered. I am worried what will happen to them.

"These women come in a few times, they get used to you, they talk to you and we see them though the whole process of not wanting to do something to finally getting out.”

On average Lake Illawarra LAC receive 38-52 callouts for DV incidents over a weekend and 10-18 on an average weekday. 

Under the restructure, cases formerly handled by LIFVSS officer, will be absorbed by Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (WDVCAS) in Wollongong.

WDVCAS NSW executive officer Helen Brereton said the reforms were a “change that needs to happen” but they needed to be properly resourced to implement them. “At this this stage no new resources or funding has been allocated,” she said.

Wollongong WDVCAS coordinator Sarah Marshall said although the already handled matters from Helensburgh to Gerroa they were expecting an increase in workload.

“We are not a large service,” Ms Marshall said, “We have two full time staff and three part time staff. 

“Every victim will be contacted by us, but it will be the timeframes that we are instructed to have which could be difficult. 

“At the moment there is no extra funding, but we have been assured we will get funding once we are rolled as a local coordination point.”

A spokesperson for FACS said they were “currently negotiating the use of the 2015/16 funds with the LIFVSS’’. 

CEO of organisation NSW Domestic Violence Moo Baulch said the reform would be ineffective if services weren’t adequately funded.

“The system is already at stretched, if you take away what was there before and replace that with another service, it needs more money,” she said.

“And not all women want a police response. Not all need a crisis response, each case is different. We need to make sure other support services are well enough funded so women and families can get the type of support they need when they need it.”

Shellharbour cr Marsh said she was “surprised” and “disheartened” to learn that service would no longer operate.

“It leaves a big gap. We have the Warilla Women’s Health centre who offer DV services and we are very fortunate to have that, but we are losing the front line workers,” she said.

‘‘I will continue knocking on doors. The highest (police callout) rates in Shellharbour is DV, so we need to make sure all levels of government are accountable and that we get the money into the community.”