STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms STEGGALL (Warringah) (13:37): I rise to recognise the incredible work of some incredibly passionate women at the Arise Foundation and to call for greater investment in recovery and healing for women leaving violence. For too many women, the crisis does not end when they leave. Too often, they face an impossible choice: immediate safety or long-term financial security.

That is not a real choice. Arise provides trauma informed employment support, financial literacy, digital skills, coaching and wraparound referrals for women escaping violence. In five years, Arise has supported 580 women and children.

Around 320 women have completed its programs, and, within six months, 54 per cent of those entered employment, education or training. Arise reports that women placed into paid work or further education have not returned to perpetrators. Crisis response saves lives and we must fund it, of course, but government should not stop there.

Six months later, many women are still navigating trauma, housing insecurity, child care, financial abuse and work. Too often, we expect women to rebuild alone. We need a proper domestic violence recovery off-ramp, a 12- to 24-month pathway that supports women from crisis into safety, stability and economic independence.

The recovery off-ramp remains underfunded. I call on the government to invest in pathways like Arise.