Save Our Women’s Services (SOS) this week released a list of eight ‘hotspots’ they have identified as requiring immediate attention, including Bega.

SOS spokeswoman Roxanne McMurray said the issue extends to Eden, where South East Women’s and Children’s Services (SEWACS) closed in July following the NSW Government’s decision to divert funding to the new Bega Valley Homelessness Support Service package.

EARLIER STORY: Eden SEWACS closes | Click here

The package is now being delivered by Mission Australia as part of the Government’s Going Home Staying Home policy.

“The new providers are coming in and doing things differently, and that’s not necessarily their fault because they have very strict guidelines, but it sets back the whole community,” Ms McMurray said.

“Domestic violence is such a sensitive and delicate issue, and what this whole process has done is unravel years and years of experience and trust that specialist workers had built up with the local community.

“We’re also consistently being told by women on the South Coast that they’re being bounced around phone lines – in one case, an already traumatised lady from Bega was told by the Links2Home hotline to go to Darwin.

“We’ve presented 15,000 signatures to Parliament from residents across NSW concerned about the loss of women’s refuges – it’s time the Government stepped in to fix this problem.”

Ms McMurray also said the temporary closure and downsizing of the Bega Women’s Refuge has impacted on women right across the region.

The Bega service, which SEWACS operated as a 24/7 refuge for 26 years prior to the tendering process, will remain closed over Christmas for renovations, and that staff numbers have dropped from 10 to three.

Labor candidate for Bega, Leanne Atkinson, also expressed concern, saying the handover has been “outrageous and astonishing”, and that the move to an umbrella homelessness program under Mission is “short-sighted”.

“Considering the population of Eden and its isolation, it absolutely needs to have a specialist domestic violence service,” Ms Atkinson said.

“I’m very concerned about this new program that puts domestic violence in under the homelessness banner – they’re separate issues and to take a one-size-fits-all approach is very short-sighted.

“Women in Eden also had the option of going to the Bega refuge, and I find it outrageous and astonishing that it remains closed and will be closed over the Christmas period, when there is a spike in domestic violence.

“My question to the Government and our local member is, ‘Was there not a single building in the whole shire that could have been used temporarily while the renovations are being done?’

“Women and children are at risk and our community has been let down – we need the Government to own up to its failings and fix the problem.”

Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, dismissed these claims, and said the temporary closure of the Bega refuge was done to ensure the safety of women and children.

Mr Constance described Labor's comments as "a pretty ordinary scare campaign", and said the Government is backing Mission to provide a high standard of services.

"Change is hard, but we're not shying away from the fact we've just gone through a tendering process to refocus the intent in this area," he said.

"There has been a massive increase in homelessness, and domestic violence is certainly a big part of that problem right across the state.

"Mission has stepped up and is providing a raft of services, and I think it's a pretty ordinary scare campaign that Labor is running, where they're attacking faith-based organisations and making out that there are no services available at all.

"Looking at the Bega refuge, Labor were backing a play where it would've continued to operate in an unsafe building, and we simply weren't prepared to let that happen."

Mission Australia also defended its programs, saying it has a proven track record in Eden and is now offering "a suite of services" to the region.

The organisation's regional leader, Cheryl O’Donnell, said the organisation has operated in Eden since 2010, and despite domestic violence services being included in the Government’s homelessness program, tailored support is provided depending on each woman’s needs.

“We have supported a number of women to access temporary accommodation, as well as assisting them to access other services that they may require such as mental health, financial counselling, employment and education,” Ms O’Donnell said.

“We have also worked to assist women escaping domestic violence to secure permanent housing and continue to support them so that they can maintain that accommodation.

“We look forward to continuing to support women in the community who are in need of assistance, and to working collaboratively with other local organisations, services and agencies across the region to provide the best outcomes for women and their children escaping domestic violence.

“We would be happy to meet with representatives of Save Our Services to discuss their concerns, as they have not raised them with us.”

One-in-four Australian women will experience domestic and family violence at some stage in their life, and Bega Valley residents are joining the international campaign to help make their local community a safer place for women and children.

16 Days of Activism to Stop Violence Against Women is a part of an international campaign running from November 25 until December 10, focusing on all forms of violence against women, including domestic, family and sexual violence.

Since it started in 1991, more than 1700 organisations in 130 countries have participated in 16 Days to help raise awareness that violence against women is a violation of human rights.

This year, the local DV committee has organised the poster competition, 'Art for Peace' and the Bega White Ribbon Day street stall.

The poster competition entries are on display at the Bega library until December 10, while the street stall will be held at Littleton Gardens from 9am-12noon on Friday, December 5.

At each event, local service providers will be distributing information, white ribbons and 'Say NO to Violence' wristbands.

Organisers ask the community for support by wearing a white ribbon and making a pledge not commit, condone nor remain silent about violence against women and children.