Alice Springs Opens First Women’s Bail Support Facility
The Finocchiaro CLP Government is continuing to deliver on its commitment to reduce crime and strengthen community safety, with the opening today of the first bail supported accommodation facility dedicated to women in Alice Springs.
Minister for Corrections Gerard Maley said the new 10-bed Open House Women’s facility, delivered in partnership with The Salvation Army, will provide safe, supervised accommodation and specialist support for women on remand.
“This program is about breaking the cycle of offending by tackling the root causes of crime, improving housing stability, and providing a structured pathway for women transitioning from custody, central to the CLP Government’s Reducing Crime Strategy,” Mr Maley said.
“For too long, women, particularly Aboriginal women, have been held on remand simply because they don’t have a safe place to stay while their matters are before the courts. This facility provides a practical, accountable alternative that supports women to comply with bail conditions while keeping the community safe.”
Designed specifically to better meet the needs of Aboriginal women, the program will help address barriers to housing for women on bail, parole, or other approved community-based arrangements, while maintaining strong supervision, clear expectations, and wrap-around support.
The facility is expected to support around 30 women each year, with the NT Government investing more than $1.5 million annually for five years to 2030.
The Salvation Army State Manager, AOD and Homelessness, Andrea Keke said this program is about giving women a safe and stable place to live while they meet their bail conditions, rather than being held in custody simply because they have nowhere else to go.
“We know that when women have safe and stable accommodation, clear and consistent support, and people around them they can trust, they are far better placed to meet their legal requirements and start addressing the challenges that have impacted their lives.”
“The Salvation Army has been operating bail supported accommodation programs across the Northern Territory for a few years, and we have seen firsthand how these services reduce reoffending and support people to stabilise their lives,”
“Our focus is not just on providing a bed, but on supporting women to plan for what comes next. Whether that’s stable housing, reconnecting with family, or engaging with health and community services.”
Participants can access the program through referrals from legal representatives or Probation and Parole Officers. Stays are anticipated to range from three to six months, with participants contributing $182 per week toward accommodation, while food and personal expenses remain their responsibility.
“We know that supported accommodation programs work. Since 2023, bail supported accommodation has helped save more than 37,000 prison bed nights, reduced pressure on our corrections system, and helped hundreds of Territorians successfully return to their families and communities,” Mr Maley added.
“This facility is about tackling the root causes of crime, through accountability, supervision and support.
“It supports women to meet their legal obligations, improves education and employment outcomes, and most importantly, helps reduce the risk of reoffending.”
The Salvation Army has successfully operated bail supported accommodation programs for men and women in Darwin, and for men in Alice Springs, since early 2023.
https://nt.gov.au/
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