The Newman Women’s Shelter is an organisation Newman Futures has worked closely with for several years. Providing a safe refuge for women and children affected by family and domestic violence, NWS also runs the Martu Patrol and several outreach programs that provide vital assistance to the community and surrounding areas.
This year has seen a number of successes for the organisation, who partnered with several agencies to provide a vital outreach service during the first wave of COVID-19 to support the community at the start of this year.
Working with the KJ Rangers, EPIS and the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service, a database was created of Newman households to conduct daily home visits during the peak of the outbreak, assisting people in RAT testing while also handing out 300 care packages that included food, cleaning and health supplies in an effort to contain the spread.
NWS Chief Executive Officer Arina Aoina said the collaborative effort was no small feat and the COVID-19 response helped some of Newman’s most vulnerable community members.
“This was one of our biggest projects this year and it was one of our biggest successes,” she said.
“The collective effort of all the agencies we worked wth ensured local people were supported to stay home with COVID and keep their community safe.”
The NWS also won the Pilbara Community Services Excellence Award for best small organisation in 2022, while continuing to deliver its Mobile Outreach Initiative to neighbouring communities.
The Mobile Outreach Initiative has been successful in reaching women, children and vulnerable people in remote communities like Jigalong, Punmu and Kunawarritji The project was recently awarded another 2 years funding.
This service offered regular Domestic Violence counselling and services, as well as workshops around things like self-care and nutrition. NWS also brought supplies like second hand clothing and health to these communities, where access to shops is limited.
Newman Women’s Shelter also ran its annual International Women’s Day event, while also producing a movie that was really successful. They were also featured in BHP’s “Think Big” campaign.
We’d like to take this opportunity to thank the Newman Women’s Shelter for all that they do for the Newman Community and for their support of the Newman Futures project.
