BY JARROD MELMETH
A number of the Hunters frontline women and children's services will today convene on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra to call for more to be done about domestic violence.
Warlga Ngurra Refuge, Nova for Women and Children, Hunter Womens Centre and Got Your Back Sista are just some of the local services who have lead the contingent of frontline workers and advocates to Canberra.
The collective are setting up a display of 150 white dresses, each decorated to commemorate a woman murdered by domestic violence.
One of the dresses tells the story of mother of two Katie Haley, who was murdered three years ago at he age of 29. It was decorated by her friend Lauren Graham, who is in attendance to share Katie's story with hope her death is not in vain.
Manager of Warlga Ngurra Refuge Rae Hopkins says these 150 women have died in the past 5 years alone.
"We are getting no action, no support, no one is listening.
"We are at full capacity. When women and children are escaping domestic violence there are a number of factors that come into play.
"There is currently no affordable housing available. There is nowhere safe for these women, children and families to go.
"We need domestic violence to be on the agenda and we need governments to listen to and support us," Ms Hopkins said.
13 women this year have been dies at the hands of violence.
Ms Hopkins says services are heartsick and tired of the grief of bearing these deaths time and time again.
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| The dress made in commemoration of Katie Hayley. |
