A temporary refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence in Perth's northern suburbs will now become a permanent facility, following an open letter from Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey that garnered more than 800 signatures. The refuge, which opened last month, currently provides interim accommodation for up to five women and their children while the Stirling Women’s Centre undergoes a $22.6 million redevelopment and expansion.
Government Investment and Expansion
The State Government has announced it will allocate $18.1 million in the 2026–27 Budget to expand crisis accommodation at the centre. This will transform the government-owned site into a dedicated 15-unit modern facility within the City of Stirling.
Mr Aubrey's open letter, addressed to Minister for Child Protection and Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Jessica Stojkovski, called on the government to support local communities by making the temporary facility permanent. He emphasised the growing need for accessible, localised support services in the Scarborough electorate and surrounding areas.
“The new Stirling Women’s Refuge is a significant and welcome investment for the northern suburbs, and I strongly support its delivery,” Mr Aubrey said. “However, the City of Stirling spans 16 suburbs across a large portion of Perth’s inner and northern corridor, and there remains a clear and growing need for accessible, localised support services within the Scarborough electorate and surrounding communities. Scarborough is the third highest-density suburb in Western Australia, with Doubleview and Innaloo also in the top five. This density means access to services close to home is even more important.”
Advocacy in Parliament
Mr Aubrey also advocated for the refuge during a grievance speech in Parliament, highlighting a “clear and pressing need” within his community. He shared his personal experience with coercive control and family violence, stating, “In my life, I have been exposed to coercive control and family and domestic violence, and through that lived experience, I understand what a scourge it is in our community. I have also witnessed the impacts of family and domestic violence within my own community. During two ride-alongs with Scarborough police in my last term, I saw that FDV incidents were a prominent part of their workload. Addressing family and domestic violence demands a whole-of-community effort across government, institutions and society as a whole at all levels of our society and all levels of government.”
The new refuge is expected to provide safe, trauma-informed accommodation and care for women, with or without children.
Minister's Response
Minister Stojkovski said that once this project and the Stirling redevelopment are complete, capacity for crisis accommodation in the northern corridor will have increased sixfold. Since 2017, 100 refuge units have been delivered across Western Australia, with 108 now in the pipeline.
“Following my visit to this site earlier this year, the Cook Labor Government identified an opportunity to make this permanent, which would help meet demand for crisis accommodation in the north metropolitan area,” Ms Stojkovski said. “This major project represents a significant step forward in boosting crisis accommodation in the northern suburbs, delivering on our commitment to build safe and inclusive communities.”
Design and Timeline
The redevelopment will embed inclusive design principles to ensure the facility is safe, accessible, and culturally appropriate. Work on the service model will begin shortly, with women and young people with lived experience co-designing it alongside the family and domestic violence sector, Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, and multicultural advisory groups. The redevelopment and expansion of the Stirling Women’s Centre is expected to be completed by late 2028.
