An organisation devoted to serving the cause of victims of family violence has welcomed a government decision to provide an additional $1 million every year to the Victims Centre Project until 2014.
Jane Drumm, Executive Director of ‘Shine,’ an Auckland based national agency said that many victims of domestic abuse were traumatised and live day-to-day in fearful situations.
“For these people, navigating their way through the justice system or trying to find information and support services can be confusing or even scary. The Victims Centre Project, including the Victims Information Freephone line and the Victims Information website, has helped to make finding information and support services much simpler and more straightforward for victims of abuse,” she said.
A Justice Ministry release said that the Victims Information free phone line (0800-650654) received 17,734, an average of 1478 per month last year.
This line is co-managed by Shine, Lifeline and Youthline.
“A further 20,260 people have accessed support by visiting the Victims Information website, www.victimsinfo.govt.nz. The Victims Centre was created within the Justice Ministry in 2011 to help victims access the resources and support services they need from Government agencies.
For further information, call Jane Drumm on 021- 987337.
Email: janed@2shine.org.nz
