Hobart Women's Shelter

During 2005–06 the Hobart Women’s Shelter underwent a redevelopment to shift from a shelter-based model to a decentralised model of service delivery.

In conjunction with Housing Tasmania, ten properties in Hobart’s northern suburbs were identified and refurbished to provide immediate emergency accommodation for women with or without accompanying children. Whilst the intake centre remains accessible to the public, the units provide a high degree of anonymity and security for clients.

Staff at the shelter report that the changed model has enhanced their service delivery. Comments from the workers include:

'We are now better able to work with families in terms of reuniting families. The increased privacy means better access for family members visiting clients and hence the clients feel less stressed – no ‘strangers’ to deal with – that is, no other clients or family members of other clients imposing on their space.

'Our workers are more focussed when they visit clients – This enables them to have short focused bursts of intensive support, rather than the often ‘casual’ conversations in a communal context.

'The primary worker model works really well, which facilitates better case management for clients. Because the support now mainly occurs during the day it is easier to manage than the previous emphasis on rostering shift-workers.

'The new model also provides opportunities for clients to test out how to be independent whilst still in a supportive environment.

'And the creation of a designated tenancy/property position has allowed a critical role separation between our support functions and our tenancy/property matters. This prevents tenancy/property issues from compromising the support needs of our clients.

For more information contact the Hobart Women's Shelter on (03) 6234 6323  

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