Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge

If you are in a domestic and family violence situation and need immediate support,

About the women’s and children’s refuge

The Pathfinders Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge can be contacted on (02) 6722 3502

We provide crisis accommodation to women and children who are experiencing or escaping domestic and family violence. After-hours crisis support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Crisis accommodation and support is provided to individual women aged 18 years and over and women with children who are located in the Inverell, Glen Innes and Tenterfield areas.

The refuge is set up to ensure residents’ safety and wellbeing and provide continued care until they can live independently or find alternative safe accommodation.

Eligibility

Women & Children escaping Domestic Violence (Priority)
Women & Children who are experiencing Homelessness
Single Women aged 18 years and over experiencing Homelessness

Please note for the safety & protection of children in the Refuge, consent for a police check is required. After Hours: You will need an AVO protecting you and or your children or Police Intervention that will need to be confirmed.

If a person is deemed eligible to stay at the refuge, local police and refuge staff will assist with a safe transition into the refuge. If unable to stay at the refuge, Pathfinders can provide alternative safe emergency accommodation options.

Accommodation

The Inverell Women’s and Children’s Refuge has five rooms for short-term emergency accommodation. Each family (mother and child/ren) and single women have their own private bedroom, along with access to shared indoor and outdoor living areas.

Our team understand that it can be difficult to live in a refuge with shared areas. We try to make each person’s stay at the refuge as comfortable as possible and we provide support using a trauma-informed approach.

Support and referrals

Case management support is provided to all women and children at the refuge to help navigate their complex needs when escaping domestic and family violence. Pathfinders’ support staff are culturally sensitive and trained in specialised areas, enabling them to provide appropriate support reflecting each resident’s needs.

Women and children staying at the refuge can be supported with immediate needs such as financial assistance, applying for Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders (ADVOs), or transport options to attend appointments. Advocacy is also offered to support women and children in accessing counselling and other specialist services relevant to the needs of the family or individual.

Common referrals made by the refuge are to:

WDVCAS (Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Services)
Staying Home Leaving Violence program
health services, including specialist services
financial assistance, such as applying for programs like the Escaping Violence Payment, Rent Choice Start Safely and legal aid
counselling support
domestic violence support groups
early education
education and employment services
parenting programs, and
living skills programs