Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre Faces Safety Concerns

This is an abridgement of the article posted by ABC News.

The $25 million Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre (WTRC) in Illawarra, was launched and planned to provide care that was trauma-informed for women who are escaping domestic, family, and sexual violence. However, despite these efforts this project is already facing significant internal challenges. SafeWork NSW issued three improvement notices, this is due to finding that the centre exposed staff to psychosocial hazards by failing to provide adequate training on vicarious trauma and imposing excessive workloads.

Seven of the centre’s ten frontline workers resigned just weeks before its September opening, explaining how leadership instability and governance issues were prevalent. Former staff have spoken out, expressing concern about the centre's ability to fulfill its mission. "We took this risk to preserve the WTRC for the women it aims to serve," a spokesperson said.

The staff have reported confusion over leadership, inadequate clinical oversight, and safety risks. Despite warnings from police advising locked doors to prevent potential perpetrators from entering, management directed staff to leave the front door unlocked without conducting a proper risk assessment. In addition to requests for vicarious trauma training being delayed until after media inquiries, which heightened fears of burnout among workers.

SafeWork NSW’s investigation found that workers were at risk of psychological injury due to excessive workloads, poor job clarity, and strained team relationships. The centre lacked appropriate training and policies for managing psychosocial hazards such as bullying and harassment. Management has pledged to comply with the improvement notices and enhance workplace processes.

Ongoing leadership challenges have resulted in staff turnover, disrupting services and distressing clients. Some women seeking help arrived to find their appointments cancelled due to staff departures. "If leadership issues aren’t addressed, staff will keep leaving, and clients will suffer," said one former worker.

Former staff formalised their concerns in a letter to the federal Department of Health and Aged Care, urging an independent administrator and leadership overhaul. Management denied breaching its funding agreement and maintains that the centre is safe for both staff and clients.

The success of the WTRC now hinges on stabilising leadership and governance to retain staff and effectively deliver the essential support services it was designed to provide.

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