People working in domestic violence programs funded by the NSW government could be sacked every financial year because of government red tape.
Women's Safety Minister Natalie Ward has acknowledged the system makes keeping staff on board a "challenge".
"The funding is in place for the four years, we've been absolutely clear about that," Ms Ward told a NSW budget estimates hearing on Tuesday.
However, she didn't guarantee that people employed by the Staying Home Leaving Violence program won't be sacked each year, even as the program expands over the next four years from 33 to 70 locations, and recruits new staff.
"In order to not have to re-tender, it's not a new contract, it's a variation to their provision," she said.
She stopped short of directly responding to a question about whether all staff working for government-funded domestic violence services would be retained over the next four years.
"Those that are expanding will obviously be able to recruit staff, and I accept what you say, it is obviously a challenge to be able to recruit and retain staff in this area," she said.
Labor's Penny Sharpe asked why the "difficult to staff" domestic violence support roles, previously filled with four-year contracts, were now being filled with staff on one year contracts.
Anne Campbell, Acting Deputy Secretary, Strategy Policy and Commissioning from the Department of Communities and Justice said the contracts were largely an issue of funding being provided over the course of a financial year.
The NSW government has also continued to fund men's behaviour change programs, despite the funding being due to end last year.
It comes after data obtained by Nine newspapers in 2021 showed only 129 of 750 men completed the behavioural change programs in NSW over a two year period.
Ms Ward said in 2021-2022 some $10 million was allocated to men's behaviour change programs, "and other services for men who choose to undertake them".
There are 17 registered non-government organisations running programs for male domestic violence offenders in 44 locations in NSW - five of those are funded by the government.
