Desert Blue Connect data shows fewer women accessing refuge in Mid West as child sexual abuse cases climb

Fewer women and children are entering Geraldton’s main refuge despite Statewide police data showing family and domestic violence reports are surging. Desert Blue Connect’s latest annual statistics paint a mixed and complex picture of family violence in the Mid West. It also reveals referrals for child sexual assault support have more than doubled over the past three years. In 2024-25, Desert Blue’s domestic and family violence team supported 1542 victim survivors, including 1488 women and 54 children. While slightly higher than 2023-24 (1499), it is lower than the 1660 victim survivors supported in 2022-23, suggesting a gradual decline. The number of children supported has dropped sharply from 159 children in 2023-24 to 54 in 2024-25, a decrease of 66 per cent. Meanwhile, the number of women and children accommodated at Chrysalis House refuge continues to fall. In 2024-25, the refuge supported 185 women and children, down from 209 in 2023-24 and 200 in 2022-23, an 11 per cent drop in two years. Desert Blue Connect business services manager Meegan Taylor said the refuge numbers did not reflect declining need. “What we’re seeing isn’t necessarily fewer people needing help, it’s that women and children are staying with us for longer,” she said. “Chrysalis House is designed for short-term stays of around three weeks, but the ongoing housing crisis means many of the women we support simply don’t have a safe or affordable place to move on to when they’re ready to leave. “As a result, stays are being extended, which reduces the number of new families we can accommodate, even though the demand for refuge support remains high.” WA Police data showed a 14 per cent rise in family assaults, threatening behaviour incidents involving family and breaches of family violence restraining orders in the Mid West-Gascoyne district, up from 886 reports to 1010 in the September 2025 quarter. That equates to local police dealing with 11 domestic violence incidents each day, with the Mid West-Gascoyne the second most prolific district in regional WA for FDV reports behind the Kimberley. While fewer people are entering refuge, demand for child sexual assault counselling continues to rise. In 2024-25, Desert Blue supported 280 child abuse cases, up from 243 in 2023-24 and more than double the 123 cases recorded in 2022-23. Ms Taylor said the rise did not necessarily mean child abuse was occurring more often. “It’s difficult to say for certain, but what these numbers most likely reflect is more people reaching out for help,” she said. “As awareness grows and services become more accessible, we’re seeing more families and community members feeling comfortable to seek support. “While the increase in numbers can look worrying, it’s also a positive sign that people are recognising abuse and taking steps to get the help for their children.” Minister for Child Protection and the Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Jessica Stojkovski said data showing fewer women entering refuge services might continue to fall as new services were implemented. “Desert Blue is going to be rolling out the Safe at Home program from July 1 next year, so we will see more of a capacity for women to stay safely in their own homes, rather than being the ones that have to leave,” she said. After a brief visit to Chrysalis House on Friday, Ms Stojkovski also spoke on the State Government’s plans to build eight new refuges in Geraldton and said planning was still under way. “We’re really cognisant of making sure that we don’t just deliver a one-size-fits-all, particularly in our regions,” she said. “Part of that is understanding what types of accommodation we need in terms of building structure which will inform how long it would take to actually build.” As sexual assault referrals increase, the State Government is recommissioning therapeutic services across WA to ensure children received adequate support.