• Lunch with WA Premier
BY ANTHONY CASTLE
Salvos in the remote Western Australia town of Karratha were honoured to attend lunch with the WA Premier recently.
Captains Gavin and Jodie Jones, Karratha Corps Officers, and representatives from their Doorways and FDV (Family and Domestic Violence) teams were invited to lunch with Premier Roger Cook. The Premier and the cabinet members were present for a tour of the region.
“I was really honoured to be invited to lunch with the premier and all of the cabinet members, along with our corps officers and Family Domestic Violence state manager,” said Danielle Black, Doorways Coordinator. “The Premier was very warm in his reception of us when he saw us wearing The Salvation Army shield and made comment on the good work that we do.”
The lunch was an opportunity to express gratitude for the Western Australia State Government’s ongoing support of The Salvation Army’s programs and community services in Karratha. The Salvos representatives also spoke about the needs of the Karratha community and the ongoing support required in the area.
“During the lunch I also had the opportunity to talk with Minister Carey,” says Danielle. “We were able to express our gratitude for the support of the government’s increase in FDV support and discuss the new women’s refuge build that is nearing completion and how desperately needed this is in the community.”
The housing crisis in the region has escalated in the Pilbarra as workers move to the region for the mining sector. The increase in demand has caused a rental emergency that has priced out low-and-middle-income earners from the region. In the last five years, rents have more than doubled in the Pilbara’s two biggest towns, and the median rental price in Karratha is $1100.
“We are in the midst of a nationwide housing shortage, particularly so in Karratha’s unique housing situation,” Danielle says. “Minister Carey was gracious and open to listening to my concerns for our community members, and what I believe are some really strong needs not currently being met. This was particularly around emergency housing options for males and young people wanting to leave home.”
Karratha Salvation Army offers a range of supports and services to the area, including youth accommodation, a women’s refuge, the Positive Lifestyle Program, the Jabaja Cooking and Homemaker program, and Doorways emergency relief and holistic case management.
