The Women’s Cottage in Richmond does incredible work support women and children escaping violence. The community has faced drought, flood, bushfires and covid. This has increased the prevalence, severity and intensity of violence. The workers at the Women’s Cottage have never been busier and local women have never needed them more. But like so many services across the country, government funding has not kept up with demand. Frontline workers are crying out for support. We have to do better and the federal government has a key role to play.