ECLC was delighted to welcome Senator Michaelia Cash, Minister for Women, and Tony Smith, Federal MP for Casey to the Yarra Ranges CLC in September.
In a detailed yet informal briefing, the developments and achievements of the Yarra Ranges CLC and ECLC’s SAGE program provided the focus.
Senator Cash was delighted that the SAGE team was already receiving such positive feedback from women supported by the service. As reported in the Mountain Views Mail, Minister Cash noted SAGE particularly helped those who were at risk of slipping through the cracks.
“So many will pull out because (they say) ‘It’s a bad experience in court, I can’t go back’,” the Minister said. “But when you have a wraparound service and an advocate who is there to support you, it’s a very different outcome.
ECLC CEO Michael Smith was very pleased that ECLC was able to outline its successes firsthand.
“I’m really pleased to show the minister what we’re doing on the ground, both with our SAGE team and also our other work here in the Yarra Ranges,” he said.
SAGE’s integrated service model has been critical to achieving the best possible outcomes for women experiencing family violence, in terms of their legal outcomes and their overall wellbeing.
SAGE is funded by the Attorney-General’s Department as part of the Women’s Safety Package.