News
Featuring stories of impact from grantees, members and our community.
Unhurried Kindness
BY Kate 25/01/2025Prison Network Recovery Program Impact
Prison Network received our $80,000 grant in November 2023 for their Recovery Program. The Program facilitates a fortnightly peer support group for women released from prison, helping them to develop protective factors to help mitigate and reduce the risk of family violence, substance misuse and re-incarceration. In addition, the peer support includes a phone-based chat group enabling regular/daily connection, encouragement, accountability and support among the participants.
Amelia Pickering, CEO of Prison Network, emphasised the crucial role of social connection in recovery. “For many women, the Recovery Program is the first time they have felt a sense of belonging and connection, often leading to a desire to give back and help others.’ The group recently participated in a charity event to raise money for the Make a Wish Foundation.
The Program is supporting the women to build their self-confidence, strengthen social and relational abilities and is reducing recidivism.
“I was released on the Tuesday and attended my first recovery support meeting on the following Monday. My goodness, what an amazing support. Not only to me, but to all the women in this group. Each fortnight, we have discussions that each of the women take turns to run. This is so valuable as it gives each of us some responsibility. We need to plan, we need to make sure it is suitable and each week we never fail to learn. The support to one another is phenomenal.”
“Every month we have a get-together. This means so much, a lot of the girls don’t have a social life, don’t have family, don’t have friends and the excitement about when and where the next outing gives me such a big smile on my face.
This group also helps us all not to reoffend as we are all accountable to one another. With their help and guidance, we all accept where we have been and where we are going.”
Recovery Program participant.
St Kilda Gatehouse Step-Up Program Impact
In 2023 St Kilda Gatehouse received the $45,000 Melbourne Women’s Foundation Nurturing Grant, supporting their Step-Up Program run from the Drop-In Centre based in St Kilda which has been operating for over 32 years.
The program provides trauma informed support for marginalised women experiencing homelessness and/or family violence, meeting their practical needs, supporting safety and building community. Individuals receive the resources they need for as long as they need to move beyond survival and achieve personal goals.
St Kilda Gatehouse CEO, Nickie Gyomber, shared, “Many who walk through our doors have chaotic lives and we are proud to be able to provide a safe, non-judgemental place free of the stigma which often accompanies our cohort. Through unhurried kindness, the support provided includes crisis support, meals, clothing, toiletries, and social inclusion activities.”
In the past year the Step-Up Program provided support in the following ways:
- 1824 meals
- 424 presentations for clothing
- 103 showers
- 76 visits directly related to housing
- 73 uses of lockers
- 60 accessing laundry facilities
- 49 items of sleeping equipment provided
- 30 attendances at social inclusion activities
- 21 individuals received weekly welfare checks
“We hold social events and celebrate special occasions all contributing to overall wellbeing and reducing the stigma often associated with those who are homeless. Our Op Shop has been well-received. Many women come in and spend time trying on different clothes, imagining themselves differently. It can be a first step to new beginnings. We have also celebrated individuals’ birthdays and been able to provide haircuts and celebrate Mother’s Day and Easter – often difficult times of year for many of our cohort.”
These grassroots organisations play a crucial role in delivering essential services and promoting social connections within our community.