Safety from violence

Young Warrior Woman – Redfern

Giving opportunity: Mentoring young vulnerable women transitioning from out-of-home-care into independent living and prepare for adulthood. Statistically they are at high risk of becoming homeless within the first year of leaving care. Often they have experienced trauma, typically do not have healthy social connections or stable positive adult influence and may have complex mental health issues.

Supporting: 25 young women aged 15-25 years often survivors of trauma.

Place: Redfern to Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Warrior Woman Foundation

Early Years for Young Mum’s – Hurstville, Gymea

Giving opportunity:  Support for vulnerable and isolated young mothers and children who are isolated and vulnerable due to the effects of COVID-19. Many have been impacted by domestic violence and increased episodes of mental health problems.

Supporting: 50 young mothers and their newborns/young children from CALD and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Place: Hurstville, Gymea
Program partner:  3Bridges Community

Strong Mothers – Redfern, Newtown, Annandale

Giving opportunity:  Young Aboriginal pregnant women and their children up until school age, working to heal present and transgenerational trauma using a holistic model. Recognising the adverse effects of childhood traumas ‘triggered’ during pregnancy affect emotional attachment between mother and child. It lays the foundation of transition for a new generation of First Nations children.

Supporting: 10 to 15 young Aboriginal mothers aged between 15 and 28 years, as well as their children and families of origin.

Place: Redfern, Newtown, Annandale
Program partner:  Strong Mothers

Dandelion Care for Bubs – Caringbah, Greater Sydney

Giving opportunity:  Disadvantaged families face many challenges, but the welfare of their children causes the most stress. This project provides both new and preloved cots, prams and car seats, as well as preloved and new clothing, toys and linen to families to ensure their children have everything they need for their safety.

Supporting: 50 financially disadvantaged families and sole parents affected by COVID-19 – often encompassing mothers and children escaping domestic violence.

Place: Caringbah to Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Dandelion Support Network

Women: Choice and Change – Kings Cross, Greater Sydney

Giving opportunity:  A face-to-face group-based program to work with women who have experienced domestic violence. They may be thinking of leaving a dangerous relationship or have already left. A safe space to learn, heal and change, to live in happier and healthier relationships.

Supporting: 72 women (aged 18+), from all socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds, including many middle aged and older (50-60+) who have experienced domestic violence or have lived through toxic or unhealthy relationships.

Place: Kings Cross to Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Lou’s Place

Hope and Heal Retreat – Greater Sydney

Giving opportunity:  While servicing the immediate crisis period in family violence is crucial, this focus has created a dangerous gap for survivors, where the long term impacts of abuse go largely untreated. Hope and Heal Retreats addresses the long-term recovery so survivors can rebuild their lives, participate in their community and economic opportunities.

Supporting: 40 women survivors of violence across 2 retreats delivering practical tools to empower women to take charge of their health and wellbeing.

Place: Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Hope and Heal

Legal Advice for Refugee Women and Girls – Parramatta

Giving opportunity:  Award winning program providing refugee women and girls in Western Sydney with access to free, confidential legal support in a women’s only space. Mainly temporary visa holders, they are not eligible for any Federal Government financial support often leaving these vulnerable women in perilous situations. Legal health checks also address fines, unpaid bills, tenancy or medical issues

Supporting: 150 women depending on the complexity of their needs.

Place: Parramatta, Western Sydney
Program partner:   Refugee Advice & Casework Service

Asylum Seekers Safety and Independence – Greater Sydney

Giving opportunity:  Help vulnerable women and children seeking asylum who live in precarious conditions gain physical safety and financial independence. These women and children are often fleeing danger, including domestic violence, and persecution. Providing a personalised pathway to employment or education with childcare to study, attend interviews and stay competitive in accepting flexible work hours.

Supporting:  1 vulnerable woman and her children seeking asylum.

Place: Newtown to Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Asylum Seekers Centre

My Story Vignette – Burwood

Giving opportunity:  Help vulnerable women and children seeking asylum who live in precarious conditions gain physical safety and financial independence. These women and children are often fleeing danger, including domestic violence, and persecution. Providing a personalised pathway to employment or education with childcare to study, attend interviews and stay competitive in accepting flexible work hours.

Supporting:  1 vulnerable woman and her children seeking asylum.

Place: Burwood to Greater Sydney
Program partner:  Asylum Seekers Centre

Music Therapy Rehabilitation – Glebe

Giving opportunity:  Music therapy for young women who are dealing with drug and/or alcohol dependency. Exposed to addictions, domestic violence, childhood abuse and neglect, many have destructive lifestyles. This program supports their rehabilitation, helping them to express and regulate emotion through music therapy.

Supporting: 15-20 young women in the Detour House drug/alcohol rehabilitation program.

Place: Glebe
Program partner:  Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy T/A Noro Music Therapy, Detour House

Women’s Coffee Club -Campbelltown, Camden, Randwick

Giving opportunity:  Nominated as a Local Hero in the 2021 Australia Day honours, Rosemary Kariuki is bringing together Sydney siders from diverse backgrounds. The Women’s Coffee Club is a safe space for women to drop in for a chat. It’s a grassroots response to the hundreds of messages to Rosemary following her award from women seeking support who identified with her story.

Supporting: 50 women to come together in a safe space with childcare and refreshments to bring them out of isolation and connected with local services to ensure their safety..

Place: Campbelltown, Camden, Randwick
Program partner:  Rosemary Kariuki

Read more Sydney Women’s Fund priority projects…