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20 May 2024
Stories
| HopeStreet, BaptistCare
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The situation in Australia is alarming right now, as a woman loses her life to domestic and family violence every four days. In NSW, the high rates of violence in rural, regional and remote areas are incredibly troubling, with very little available in the way of support services for those in need.
Couple this with a major shortage in emergency housing, as well as geographical and social isolation, there are major challenges to overcome for women attempting to escape a violent situation at home.
Women living in regional towns also face “small town syndrome” - where everyone knows everyone, which can further complicate an already dangerous situation.
Mary (not her real name) was forced to leave her country town years ago, attempting to find safety amongst strangers in a city. She shared with us that she found it incredibly hard to be honest about what was happening to her at home with those who lived in her small town, and often, she wasn’t believed.
“Unfortunately, like so many victims, I had been condemned and blamed by my country community.”
Escaping to the city, Mary was able to access counselling from BaptistCare, and slowly began rebuilding her life.
“I really “lucked in” when I was referred to BaptistCare,” she said.
Mary had suffered physical, emotional and mental abuse by her ex-husband, and her counsellor was one of the first people who not only believed her story, but believed in her resilience and strength to rebuild.
It was a long road of recovery for Mary, who says counselling was instrumental in helping her to come to terms with what she had been through.
“You can’t make sense of it, but eventually, you can understand that it wasn’t your fault.”
BaptistCare’s Counselling Services provide women with a safe place to take refuge, along with clinically trained counsellors who specialise in domestic and family violence. They work with women by supporting and connecting them with others who are working through similarly complex issues, including family violence.
In addition to one-on-one counselling, the counselling team also provide domestic and family violence support groups and programs, including:
“The counselling program holds you together while you’re recovering. You become free from the shame, it empowers you; it may not fix what’s happened, but it helps you believe in yourself,” says Mary.
With government funding unable to meet the rapidly increasing numbers of family and domestic violence cases across the country, BaptistCare relies on generous donors like you to deliver critical services to women and children escaping violence and trying to rebuild their lives.
The organisation’s annual fundraising event, the Halo Ball, is an important opportunity to raise vital funds.
This year’s event (20 September, Hilton Sydney) aims to raise more than $400,000 for BaptistCare HopeStreet‘s programs, which support women and children with a transformative path of restoration, empowerment and hope, assisting families as they rebuild their lives.
Just one year after telling her story on film, Mary joined guests at BaptistCare’s Halo Ball, and shared how she was travelling after years of counselling support.
“My life is happy, and most importantly, I am safe. Not only have I reclaimed my life, but I have also reclaimed my dignity as a woman, my dignity as a mother, and my dignity as a member of our society.”
Your sponsorship at our upcoming Halo Ball could be life-changing for a woman like Mary.
To find out more, or to buy tickets for the event, visit Halo Ball 2024 | BaptistCare
If you want to learn more about BaptistCare HopeStreet’s work in this space, or wish to access our support services, please contact us via the enquiry form below.
You can also drop into any of our HopeStreet centres for local face-to-face support with a personal case worker. Our HopeStreet staff can support with:
Connecting you with local crisis accommodation
For men who need support with their relationship, contact Mens Referral Service via ntv.org.au/mrs/ or MensLine Australia via mensline.org.au
