First State Government-led safety hub opens in Murray Bridge

South Australia’s first State Government-led safety hub has opened in Murray Bridge today. The hub will provide local women and their children living in, or at risk of, a violent or abusive situation better access to the support and information they need.

Known as “The Haven”, the Murray Bridge location is the first of nine to be opened across regional areas of the state.

Located within the Murray Bridge Community Centre, The Haven will provide local supports so women don’t have to travel far to get the help they need.

Each safety hub will be tailored to address the specific needs of the local community, with the models in each region informed by consultation at domestic violence roundtable forums held earlier in the year.

In Murray Bridge, an information and referral service has been opened that’s located within an existing community centre, is staffed by trained volunteers and provides women targeted information and referrals to local services. This includes access to specialist domestic, family and sexual violence services, as well as assistance with housing and legal matters.

Any information shared with volunteers at The Haven is treated sensitively. If women are being referred to other services, the worker will contact the other service provider first, so women don’t have to keep repeating their stories.