Fiona Worrall, formerly employed in the QPS, has worked in the DFV sector for 15 years and is now the CEO of Peggy’s Place. Fiona spoke about how this unique philanthropic organisation is planning to support the survivors of gender violence. A grand 4 storey building on 37 acres will house as many as 40 children and 35 women is in the process of being renovated with an anticipated opening date in 2023.
Peggy’s Place will offer survivors a trauma responsive place of safety, as well as a place for #DFV survivors to transform and rebuild their lives. Peggy’s Place will wrap a range of supports around survivors and their children through an integrated service response employing counsellors and case workers for both children and women (as well as legal advice, financial planning and educational opportunities).
Peggy’s Place will partner with Rise Up, Commercial Supporters, QPS, First Nations Services, Community Housing, Health, Youth Services, Financial Counselling Services, Brisbane region refuges, YourTown, DV Connect, Department of Women, and the office of the Hon Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman.
In partnership with QPS, Peggy’s Place will continue to ensure that there is support for women to report abuse, breaches and give evidence when needed from the comfort of their own space.
The strong message from Fiona’s presentation is that we can do better together to enhance systems responses to survivors of domestic family violence by building solid relationships across a range of NGO and Government services that include the QPS to improve integrated service delivery.
This speech was recorded at the Enhancing policing and integrated responses to domestic and sexual violence workshop, co-hosted by Kerry Carrington and the University of the Sunshine Coast 21 October 2022. You can listen to it by clicking the link below.
