In the first three weeks of January 2024 over 300 phone calls have been recieved from women experiencing domestic violence in the remote NPY lands (population around 6000).
As temperatures soar in Alice Springs, the NPYWC Domestic & Family Violence Service (DFVS) has been met with a high number of calls for support by Anangu women fearing for their safety in remote Central Australian communities.
NPYWC case workers organise complex evacuations and safety plans for women in very remote communities that may not have immediate access to police, emergency accommodation or transport. This summer has been alarming as workers face a barrage of urgent calls for support.
In what is a national crisis, remote Anangu women experiencing domestic violence face greater barriers in finding safety in comparison to women in urban areas. Anangu women reside in some of the most remote areas of Australia that are often a blind spot for funding and infrastructure around domestic and family violence. Significant cultural and language barriers can also inhibit interaction with services and emergency support.
Anangu women continue to respond to and resist violence with courage and perseverance, never giving up on their hope for a future free from violence. They put their trust in NPYWC for culturally safe and responsive support. This is why the demand for help is greater than ever. Our capacity to respond is also being pushed to the limit.
We want to make sure these Anangu women are not forgotten, and that resources to support the safety of women and children are expanded to meet the need of remote Central Australia.
We leave no woman behind – Atunypa Wiru Minyma Uwankaraku (Good protection for all women)
Read more about the NPYWC Domestic & Family Violence Service
