Thursday 15 May 2025

The NSW Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety (Adira Centre), has marked one year of supporting women and children experiencing domestic and family violence from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Fulfilling an election commitment, the NSW Government provided $4.4 million in funding to establish the Adira Centre, recognising the need for culturally appropriate support for victim-survivors from diverse communities.

Opening its doors in May 2024, the Centre delivers a wide range of culturally responsive and in-language domestic and family violence services across primary prevention, early intervention, crisis support and recovery.

While based in south-western Sydney, it operates statewide including outreach services, sector support and programs in regional areas.

In its first year of operation, the Adira Centre has:

• Delivered more than 50 community information sessions on healthy relationships and domestic and family violence attended by more than 1,000 people, with interpretation provided in 15 different languages.
• Provided direct support to hundreds of women and children from multicultural backgrounds who are experiencing, or at risk of, domestic and family violence, including advice and referrals through to casework and counselling. Support was provided more than 20 different languages.
• Delivered 13 capacity-building workshops on understanding, identifying and responding to domestic and family violence in multicultural communities to organisations across both the domestic and family violence and settlement sectors.
• Convened Learning Circles and delivered capacity building activities for women in migrant and refugee communities who are often the “first responders” to domestic and family violence in their communities.

The NSW Government recognises that migrants, refugees and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can experience multiple intersectional challenges that increase the likelihood, impact and/or severity of violence and may also face additional barriers to accessing support and safety.

Ensuring the needs of victim-survivors from diverse backgrounds and their children are met is a key component of the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Plan 2022-27.

The NSW Government is taking a whole of community approach to addressing domestic and family violence. This includes working with stakeholders and listening to victim-survivors when developing and rolling out our responses.

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“At the opening of the Adira Centre one year ago, I said the Centre will ‘help deliver much needed services to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities in a manner that is accessible and respectful of their culture.’

“That’s exactly what the Adira Centre has done – it has delivered tailored early intervention and primary prevention programs, as well as crisis support and recovery services, that are culturally appropriate, in-language, and meet the specific needs of women and children from multicultural backgrounds.

“The Adira Centre is a crucial part of our whole of government response to domestic and family violence, and demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver support for victim-survivors in all communities across the state.

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“The NSW Government recognises the need for tailored and culturally appropriate responses informed by knowledge of and connection to multicultural communities.

“We know that women from migrant and refugee backgrounds are less likely to report violence or seek help due to language barriers, cultural stigma, concerns about visa and residency status, financial insecurity and other cultural reasons.

“Over the past year, the Adira Centre has improved and increased access to information and support for domestic and family violence victim-survivors from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

“They’re also building the capacity of communities and organisations so that even more women and children from diverse backgrounds can access specialised, in-language and culturally safe services to support them.”

Settlement Services International CEO Violet Roumeliotis said:

“In just one year, the Adira Centre has identified a critical gap in support for migrant and refugee women and children experiencing domestic and family violence – and worked with the sector and the community to fill it.

“All women and children – no matter their language, cultural background or visa status – deserve to live free from violence and to have access to support.

“The Adira Centre is collaborating with communities and services statewide to strengthen service responses and culturally appropriate support for migrant and refugee women and children.

“This is an important step in developing a skilled, culturally responsive specialist domestic and family violence workforce in NSW.”

Gulnara Abbasova, Director of the Multicultural Centre for Women’s and Family Safety said:

“Migrant and refugee women’s experiences of violence are driven by expressions of gender inequality and other intersecting forms of inequality and discrimination, including racism, sexism, and the cultural and structural barriers that influence such experiences – and prevent women from seeking help.

“The Adira Centre is a resource to the NSW domestic and family violence sector, and the multicultural and settlement sector, to support the capacity of services to address the cultural and structural barriers that affect migrant and refugee women’s access to safety.

“Our collaborative practice and sector capacity building are complemented by a strong focus on prevention and community education. In the past year, the Adira Centre has worked with multicultural communities across NSW to increase awareness and understanding of domestic and family violence and its drivers, and to promote healthy relationships.”

Support:

If you’re in immediate danger, call Triple Zero [000] and ask for Police.

If you or someone you know is experiencing coercive control, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or visit 1800 RESPECT (Languages) for support and information. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week.

If you are worried about your behaviour, call the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491. Available 24 hours, 7 days a week. This is a free, confidential and anonymous service.

If you need an interpreter, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 and ask them to contact the service you would like to speak to.