Douglas Shire, which has one of Queensland’s highest rates of reported domestic and family violence, will consider a proposal for a service providing safe accommodation and support services for women and their children escaping Domestic and Family Violence, at tomorrow’s open session of Council in Mossman.

This comes in light of the high proportion of at-risk populations, yet there is no crisis or supported accommodation service.

According to Council papers, Council has been working with Queensland Police Service and local community organisations to advocate for the establishment of a Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) refuge in the region.

Council adopted a functional design brief in 2017 detailing the type of facility best suited to the needs of the region.

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“Recent State Government funding increases for specialist DFV services in Douglas Shire coupled with data from police and community organisations show that the need which compelled Council to become a strong advocate in pursuit of a supported accommodation service to assist victims and their children, has not abated.”

It will be proposed that the Domestic and Family Violence supported accommodation operational model proposal be used in conjunction with the Functional Design Brief to advocate for funding and service provision partnerships with State and Federal Governments for a DFV facility to be located in the Douglas Shire.

In November last year, the Shire took a strong stand when it held a march in Mossman to support Australia’s campaign to stop violence against women.

In January last year, Newsport reported figures that revealed an increase to domestic violence orders and breaches in Mossman during the 2016-17 financial year.

It came as Mayor Julia Leu continued to call on the State Government’s new cabinet to urgently address the need for a domestic violence shelter in the region.

It was revealed that 64 domestic violence applications were made in Mossman and 28 in Port Douglas during the 2015-16 financial year. These orders were contravened 78 times.