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Friday November 2 2007, Media Release

NSW SEEKS URGENT SUPPORT FOR BREWARRINA WOMEN

The NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) has called for urgent financial aid from the Australian and NSW Governments to support a Brewarrina women’s group tackling domestic violence, sexual and substance abuse in western NSW.

The Council’s North West Region Councillor, Steve Gordon, said the Ourgunya program run by Aboriginal women of Brewarrina was being overwhelmed by the number of women and children seeking refuge from violence and abuse.

“The plight of Ourgunya and Brewarrina women and children was discussed by the NSWALC Board this week and we are appalled by their situation and the lack of response from the Australian and state governments to their calls for support,” Councillor Gordon said.

“The Brewarrina women at Ourgunya are saying they are trying to provide refuge for an average 10 women a day, some of them with children, in a run down three bedroom house with annual funding of $179,000.

“Even this limited assistance program may have to stop unless the state government agrees to recurring funding.

“Lack of funding from governments has also prevented Ourgunya from opening a disused and vandalised 20 room aged care home it bought three years ago as a refuge for women and children.

“Ourgunya has offered free labour and approached the Australian Government for a $685,000 grant so that this building could be fixed and operating for the benefit of at risk women and children.

“NSWALC urges the Australian Government to make this grant and also to consider providing a TAFE program for local Aboriginal workers on the project so that valuable skills are brought into the community.

“NSWALC is deeply concerned by the high levels of dispossession and disadvantage suffered by Aboriginal people in western NSW, which is reflected by violence and sexual and substance abuses.

“We are working with the NSW Government on means of addressing violence and abuse in Aboriginal communities but grass roots organisations like Ourgunya, which are on the front line combating these problems need financial support from governments right now.”

Further information: Paul Molloy 0419 690 926