Promise check: Fund 500 new community sector workers to support women in crisis

At the 2022 election, Labor promised to fund 500 new community sector workers to support women in crisis. Here's how that promise is tracking.

(Image by ABC News)

As part of a suite of measures aimed at supporting those fleeing violent relationships, Labor pledged to fund 500 new community sector workers to support women in crisis before the 2022 election.

"Right now, women fleeing violence are being turned away from accommodation and services because of insufficient funding towards sector workers, and the failure to recognise this tragedy as a national priority," then opposition leader Anthony Albanese said in a media release announcing the funding in November 2021.

According to a policy document available on the ALP's website, Labor's funding commitment will allow shelters to employ an extra case manager, community organisations to hire financial counsellors and specialist women's services to employ support workers for affected children.

Half of the 500 jobs will be allocated to rural and regional areas.

Funding for the program has been allocated over four years, with Labor planning to spend $19.3 million on the program in 2022-23, $38.3 million in 2023-24, $49.4 million in 2024-25 and $50.8 million in 2025-26.

Assessing the promise

The promise tracker considers this to be a funding-based promise and as such will assess it on the basis of funding goals being met.

This promise will be delivered if Labor provides funding for 500 additional support workers.

Here's how the promise is tracking:

19 May 2023

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Promise check: Fund 500 new community sector workers to support women in crisis