I recently had the privilege to visit Karinya House, a really important organisation here in Canberra that supports women who are pregnant or have newborns who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They provide a home and a support network for women and their children at this critical point in their lives. It was great to meet with Lavinia Tyrrel, CEO of Karinya House, and her team to hear about the incredibly valuable work that they do to support women and their children in Canberra. The staff and volunteers at Karinya House work to provide not only immediate assistance but also the tools necessary for women to build a brighter future for themselves and their families. Their impact extends well beyond the walls of their organisation. They recognise that by assisting women and families in times of crisis we build a stronger society. With the rising cost of living, the housing and rental crisis, and the high incidence of family and domestic violence, the demand for Karinya's services remains high in Canberra and the surrounding region.
Australian women are front and centre of the Albanese government's priorities, and this is reflected in our National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children and the $1.7 billion commitment to improving women's safety initiatives to support our ambition of a country free from gender based violence. I want to thank Lavinia and her team for sharing their ideas on how we can support women and the work that they do each and every day to support these families at a really difficult point in their lives and to give them that hope and community around them.
