General News
2 September, 2025
DV safe houses are ready to go
MAREEBA could soon have four safe houses established for women and children escaping domestic violence, through a new service being developed by Safe Living NQ.
“We are still going through the application process, so we’re expecting a six to eight week turnaround time there, but our homes are already up and compliant and ready to go,” Safe Living NQ chief executive officer Joey Clark said recently.
“We actually have four homes available – two four-bedroom homes and two three-bedroom homes – the first of their kind in Mareeba.”
The service will be funded through the Department of Housing and the Queensland Child Homelessness program and would provide the homes and “full wraparound services for women and children escaping DFV”, he said.
The new service is a vital expansion by Safe Living NQ, which already provides eight residential youth homes in Mareeba.
“Obviously, I’ve done a lot of research around this – there is a massive need, and there is an undersupply of these types of homes,” Mr Clark said.
Safe Living NQ is the largest and most successful residential youth service provider in the Tablelands which employs over 55 Mareeba locals and five local contractors.
It has recently signed a partnership with NDIS Devange training to facilitate the opening of semi- independent living homes (SILs) in Mareeba.
Safe Living NQ started in Mareeba 18 months ago and has rapidly increased its youth services.
Mr Clark, a New Zealander who has lived in Mareeba for the past 20 years, said he and his wife had both worked for other major support organisations and had seen what worked and what didn’t and used their experience to develop their business.
“What sets us apart is our residential homes are very high quality, unlike others that are more institutionalised,” he said.
“Our homes are beautiful, the furniture is high quality. We want our kids to know that just because they may have come from a low socio-economic background, we care about them.
“They seem to respect these homes because they feel worthy and appreciated. It totally works.”
Their youth residential service also introduced animal-assisted therapeutic care in August last year.
“We’re the only residential youth provider in the entire region that provides this for our kids.
“We have horses, mini goats, pigs and a lot of other animals at our residences,” Mr Clark said.
“It helps to reduce trauma from past experiences and anxiety. The kids love spending time out there with the animals because the animals don’t judge, they love you for who you are.”
Mr Clark is also launching a personal project this November, the Destine 2 Ryse Indigenous Youth Foundation.
It will provide traineeships, apprenticeships, and scholarships for promising Indigenous youth in Mareeba who face financial barriers.
“The main focus is on teaching future skills such as AI, entrepreneurship, business, marketing, and website building taught through a ‘practical first’ learning model integrated with cultural activities,” he said.
“After learning sessions, we have fun, with experiences like jet skiing and tubing at Tinaroo.”
Mr Clark is personally backing the foundation. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I always thought to myself, if I’m ever in the position financially one day, I would like to create this charity,” he said.
