The Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) charity is calling for community support to help establish a women’s and children’s shelter in Hume.
WCS chief executive Annabelle Daniel said there is a growing need for a refuge for local women and children escaping domestic violence.
“When areas on the periphery of greater metropolitan areas start to get more housing there’s also more demand for services like specialist domestic and family violence refuges,” Ms Daniel said.
“Hume is an area where we know that there are rates of domestic violence incidents and where we know that women and children are reaching out for help.”
Crime Statistics Agency data found that in Hume, family violence increased by more than three per cent in the 12 months to September 2025, rising from 3693 incidents in to 3810.
“Women and children are facing coercive control and domestic abuse, and domestic abuse is the primary reason that women become homeless,” she said.
More 40 per cent of people accessing homelessness services from 2024 to 2025 were facing domestic violence, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
“Wherever you open a new shelter for women and children, people will attempt to put themselves on a waiting list before the doors are even open,” Ms Daniel said.
“It is so important if we are going to address domestic and family violence that there are safe beds for women and kids who need them.”
Ms Daniel said she encourages the community to get involved and attend a WCS forum on 18 March. from, 6.30-8.30pm ay Aitken College, Greenvale, to learn more about establishing a shelter.
“Our shelters work on a model of part government funding, part community funding and part philanthropy funding and that ensures sustainability,” she said.
Ms Daniel said the wider community can get involved by helping to build support, find staff and organise donations.
Details: womenscommunityshelters.supporterhub.net.au/pages/rsvp-hume-communityforum-2026
