In the driver’s seat: How South Burnett CTC is helping victims of domestic violence out of harm’s way

26 October 2020

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their own home. Tragically, that right isn’t always respected – and that’s why organisations like South Burnett CTC play such a vital role in the community. 

Originally established in 1983 as a community training centre to address high levels of youth unemployment, South Burnett CTC has expanded and diversified its operations over the years in accordance with the needs of the community. 

Today, this community-owned, not-for-profit organisation helps disadvantaged people with a wide range of programs, including disability services, foster care, and youth and family services addressing homelessness, health, domestic violence and more. 

“If someone in our community has a problem,” South Burnett CTC CEO Nina Temperton says, “they get sent here, and we do our best to help them.” 

Often, those requests for help come from people experiencing domestic and family violence. Breaches of domestic violence orders have been steadily rising across almost all South Burnett townships for the better part of the past two decades, with a 350.7 per cent increase in DVO breaches across the region from 2001 to 2019

The organisation’s domestic violence service provides counselling, DVO application assistance and in-court support. Sadly, demand for the service is high, and staff are stretched thin, leaving them with little time for the urgent task of crisis intervention – helping women and children escape violent situations and get to a safe place. 

“It’s an endless struggle,” Temperton says. “The lack of public transport options in the South Burnett region is a huge problem, because there’s nothing to help people get away from these dangerous environments. And the situation got worse during COVID, when the minute amount of public transport that was available ceased altogether. 

“It’s very important for us to be able to provide transport for people who need to relocate to safety outside of the South Burnett. But we can’t possibly take a counsellor out of the office for up to six hours at a time to take someone from, say, Murgon to wherever the nearest available shelter or safe space is.” 

The answer to this problem came in the form of Stanwell’s social investment. Stanwell adapted its community support programs during COVID-19 and South Burnett CTC was successful in being granted $20,000 to hire the drivers the service required to be able to provide transport for victims of domestic violence without disrupting the work of their counselling staff. 

As COVID-19 restrictions have lifted and the daily bus service from the South Burnett to Caboolture has begun running again, South Burnett CTC has also been able to use some of that funding to pay for crisis accommodation for people experiencing homelessness. 

“Stanwell is a fantastic supporter of South Burnett CTC,” Temperton says. 

“We couldn’t do it without them, and we’re pleased to be able to acknowledge the terrific support we’ve received from Stanwell for our work over the years.” 

Stanwell’s Corporate Sponsorship Program is focussed on improving the quality of life in the communities in which Stanwell operates, and the Stanwell Power Station Community Fund and Tarong Community Partnership Fund are intended to build economic capacity, preparedness and resilience in the communities closest to the power stations. 

Stanwell’s Corporate Sponsorship Program can be applied for at any time

To be considered for the Stanwell Power Station Community Fund or Tarong Community Partnership Fund, a project must meet all three of the following criteria: 

  1. Be in the final stages of planning. 
  2. Be overseen by a registered organisation. 
  3. Be capable of creating something enduring within the region.

Successful projects must also meet at least one of the following criteria: 

  • facilitates a collaborative approach to social connectedness;
  • leads to increased employment;
  • improves access to and/or sustainability of existing critical services;
  • enhances educational opportunities and personal leadership; and / or
  • builds community economic capacity, preparedness and resilience.

For more information about the Stanwell Power Station Community Fund and the Tarong Community Partnership Fund, click here. To speak directly to a Community Relations team member, please call (07) 4160 9165 (South Burnett) or (07) 4930 3634 (Central Queensland) or email sponsorship@stanwell.com.