NSW government's $230 million emergency domestic violence package to include bail law changes and integrated support service

NSW Premier says it’s a ‘sad day’ and that all governments need to do more to minimise gendered violence as $230 million package announced. ()

Women who have left a violent relationship could be given wrist-worn duress alarms and home security upgrades to help them stay in their communities, the state government has announced.

The Staying Home Leaving Violence program, which has been successfully trialled in parts of Western Sydney and regional NSW, will be expanded across the state as part of a four-year, $230 million package to combat domestic violence.

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The package also includes nearly $24 million for specialist domestic violence support workers and $45 million for an as-yet unannounced program to improve the bail system.

There will be $48 million spent supporting the health and education of children who’ve accompanied their mothers to refuges, while $38 million has been earmarked to address the drivers of domestic, family and sexual violence.

The “integrated domestic violence support service” will also be expanded to help victims navigate the often complicated processes involving the police, courts, healthcare, child protection and housing.

Premier Chris Minns said the package had been formulated in consultation with domestic violence experts and victim-survivors.

“This funding announcement is an important step to doing better, to recognising that domestic violence supports need to be applied not just from a crisis response perspective, but with an eye to disrupting the cycle of domestic and family violence early and permanently,” he said in a statement.

Duress alarms, security upgrades to protect victim-survivors

The Staying Home Leaving Violence (SHLV) program aims to help women who have ended a violent relationship stay in their communities, close to their family and friends.

It provides risk assessments and security upgrades for victims’ homes and in some circumstances, personal duress alarms that women can press if their former partners threaten them.

The duress alarms can be worn on the wrist, like a watch or fitness monitor, and signal their activation with vibrations, so a violent partner is not aware it has been triggered.

Police can be called automatically and on some devices, can even listen to the audio.

Security upgrades can include the installation CCTV cameras, which not only help victims monitor their homes, they can provide evidence for prosecutors when a partner breaches an apprehended domestic violence order.

Trial has shown promising results

The SHLV program trials were assessed by the University of NSW’s Gendered Violence Research Network in 2022.

Case workers reported the scheme was generally “well-designed” and “effective”.

While only 7 per cent of trial participants were issued with a personal duress alarm, case workers and victims said they improved safety.

“It’s just a simple press a button and no-one would know what I am doing because it looks just like a fitness watch,” one trial participant said.

“To be discreet is the most amazing thing because … the last thing you need is to trigger the other person to know there’s a watch beeping or there’s something going on.”

However, some domestic violence support services reported problems with data reception in regional areas.

Trial participants said the security upgrades also made them feel safer. One victim said a contractor installed non-standard screws on her home, which prevented their partner breaking in.

However, service providers said it was hard for women and children to leave crisis accommodation, due to a lack of affordable housing, particularly in regional areas.

Bail reform details yet to come

The government is still waiting on two reviews into the state’s bail laws from the Crown Advocate and the Bail Act Monitoring Group.

They were ordered following the death of 28-year-old Molly Ticehurst in Forbes, allegedly at the hands of her former partner, who had been previously bailed on charges of violence against her.

“In the coming weeks we will confirm and announce the details of $45 million to improve bail laws and justice system responses, ensuring we are reviewing domestic violence supports and systems from every angle,” NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said.

The state opposition will seek changes to the bail act in parliament this week, including the expanded use of ankle-bracelet monitors for alleged domestic violence offenders.