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NSW domestic violence services raise warning over $5000 grant program
By Lucy Cormack
The state’s peak body for domestic violence services has said women in crisis face harmful repercussions from a federal grant program beset by delays, poor approvals processes and fees reducing payments.
Domestic Violence NSW says systemic issues with the trial program that offers women up to $5000 over 12 weeks have caused frontline workers to stop referring women despite extensive demand.
In a recent letter to the federal government, DVNSW chief executive Delia Donovan says there could be “dire consequences for victim-survivors” if the program does not improve.
Domestic Violence NSW chief executive Delia Donovan says there could be “dire consequences for victim-survivors” if the program does not improve.Credit:Louise Kennerley
“Some services have already decided to discontinue supporting applications to the program due to the delays in processing applications and the uncertainty for clients,” she wrote in February.
DVNSW has escalated the warning with a report released on Monday that collates survey responses from 79 service providers and recommendations to improve the program.
Among concerns were delays of up to 12 weeks and 10 alleged cases of individuals’ payments being capped at $4000 due to a $1000 administration fee being claimed by the NSW scheme operator. The government says it has no evidence of this.
Strong demand
The Herald last week revealed national demand for the escaping violence program was almost twice as strong as anticipated and that women had been waiting more than four weeks on average to receive money.
Self-referrals account for more than 80 per cent of applicants. More than 10,000 women have applied in fewer than six months.
Victim-survivors can have access to up to $1500 in cash and the remainder in other financial support for goods and services. The government extended the scheme for three more years in the March budget and added $40 million to the current financial year.
UnitingCare was contracted by the Department of Social Services to administer the program nationally. Wesley Mission is subcontracted to facilitate it in NSW and the ACT.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said UnitingCare had a long history of supporting vulnerable women.Credit:James Brickwood
‘Demoralising and paternalistic’
DVNSW conducted a survey of its members in April, in which 89 per cent said they had issues with the process, including receiving vouchers instead of cash, which one service provider described as “demoralising and paternalistic”.
“A Kmart voucher is useless. [It] can’t be used online. Clients have the right of choice. Give them an EFTPOS card or a Visa debit card,” says another in the report.
A further response said it took three months to receive payment for a client, due to ongoing communication issues: “The outcome ended up being the client was offered $1000 cash payment and $500 grocery voucher.″
The report also claims DVNSW has received reports of a $1000 administration fee being charged to a minority of women by Wesley Mission, even though all costs are being covered by the government.
“The underlying systemic issues [remain], despite continued feedback and advocacy with UnitingCare, DSS, and Minister Ruston,” the report says.
In a statement on behalf of the UnitingCare network consortium, Uniting Vic.Tas CEO Bronwyn Pike says the organisation is actively responding to feedback from consumers and support agencies.
Pike rejected any allegations of administration fees being scraped off the top and the capping of payments to $4000.
“Individual payments can vary but all clients are eligible to receive the full $5000,” she said.
“EVP is just one available option and is designed to complement existing programs. It has highlighted the need for more choice of support for people leaving a violent relationship.”
Seven-day response target
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the government had committed to establishing a seven-day response target for the continued roll-out of the program.
“We established this payment as a trial to undergo an independent review because it is something that has never been done before, and we want to make sure the settings meet the needs of people escaping violent relationships,” she said.
“This includes the way in which we deliver the payments, whether that be in cash or in kind.”
Manager of Macarthur Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service Tania Whitehouse said navigating the program had been complex, but she commended the federal government for its initiatives.
Whitehouse said she believed the NSW network of court advocacy services would have been a more appropriate operator to administer the scheme.
“Fund the services already doing the work. Fund them at the level they should be because we are all drowning in work.”
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit www.1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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