Albany’s Southern Aboriginal Corporation to bring family violence prevention legal service to Narrogin

An Albany-based family violence prevention legal service is set to expand to Narrogin by the end of August, in a bid to bridge the gap in representation for Noongar people living in the southern Wheatbelt. Southern Aboriginal Corporation has been operating its Family Violence Prevention Legal Service across the Great Southern since 2007. The service provides free, culturally safe legal support and other services for Aboriginal survivors of sexual assault and family violence, with a focus on informed trauma healing. Staff provide a point of contact for Noongar people navigating the legal service and offer representation in court proceedings. With a staff member soon to be based in Narrogin, the service’s community outreach and early intervention programs will also expand across the southern Wheatbelt to increase awareness and help reduce instances of family and domestic violence. SAC chief executive Asha Bhat said the team would help survivors across the region including in Narrogin, Wagin and Brookton. “Expanding the delivery of the FVPLS to the Wheatbelt South regions of WA will focus on servicing the identified gaps and meeting the needs of Aboriginal people confronted by family violence and sexual assault,” she said. “Narrogin has a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population at 6.8 per cent, than the State proportion of 3.1 per cent, but no culturally appropriate legal or support service is based in the town. “SAC believes that there is a level of unmet demand in the South West and Wheatbelt South regions regarding the provision of an effective FVPLS program that specifically meets the cultural and societal needs of Noongar people affected by sexual assault and family violence.” SAC was one of three service providers to receive a share in $18.2 million in June to boost access to FVPLS. Ms Bhat said SAC had funding for the Narrogin position for the next three years but hoped to expand.