 |
 |
What you will find:
- Our impact on women and children’s safety
- Hear from the voices of survivors
- Tax time and charitable giving: our EOFY appeal
- Mary’s House Volunteer team co-winners
- A movie recommendation from our CEO
- Our legacy giving program
- Pets are often victims in abusive relationships
- Federal and state government funding falls short
- Dates for your calendar
|
|
Impact on women’s and children’s safety and lives
Dear Mary's House Services Supporters,
Mary’s House Services has provided over 13,000 room nights to women and children escaping domestic and family violence since opening its doors in 2016 - relying solely on the support of you, our donor community. Mary’s House Refuge is currently accommodating four women and five children; we provide this critical accommodation 365 nights of the year.
If we cannot accommodate a woman and her children, we refer them to a range of other resources and provide safety information. However, demand for emergency accommodation remains high and the number of women declined accommodation, due to no vacancy at the refuge, is growing. Likewise, Mary’s House Services needs significantly more financial support to meet the increasing demand for specialist domestic violence caseworker support for women living in the community.
Your ongoing support is vital, thank you – you enable us to provide life-saving and life-changing services and programs to women and children impacted by violence and abuse.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Hear directly from our clients
Hear directly from our clients
Produced pro bono by Phil Carey, COO of Sophie Scott Health a division of Cornerstone Media, we invite you to hear the voices of some of our clients, talking about their experience being supported by Mary’s House Services. Before listening, please consider your own wellbeing as there is mention of real experiences of domestic violence and you may find some content upsetting. Our clients’ safety and informed consent were paramount throughout the video production and editing; the clients whose voices you will hear, are safe and well.
One-minute video
Four-minute video |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Tax time and charitable giving are…
… like vegemite on toast and a pie and sauce - they match!
With Stage 3 tax cuts approaching on July 1, you may consider seeking advice on the potential benefits to you of bringing forward future tax deductions while tax rates are higher, via structured giving or other suitable method.
Your generosity before June 30 will ensure we can continue our mission to make a real difference to the safety of women and children. You can make your gift below, before EOFY. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Mary’s House Volunteer team
Co-winners of the North Sydney “Community Builder of the Year” award
We are delighted that our wonderful volunteers were recognised by North Sydney Council on 19th April as co-winners of this important award. We’d love you to watch the video to learn more, and we take this opportunity to extend our ongoing gratitude to the community members who give so much of their time and skills to support women’s and children’s safety. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A movie review from the philanthropy sector from our CEO Yvette
“In the charity sector, we’re sometimes asked about the costs of fundraising, and the costs of running an organisation to provide our free services – sometimes people call these costs ‘overheads’. I recently watched a deeply involving, emotionally affecting and powerful movie called Uncharitable, launching nationally on streaming services soon. I cannot recommend this 90 minute movie highly enough. If you are interested in social issues and donate to charities, and you want to understand more about the sector’s inner workings, please do yourself a favour and watch this movie. Please let me know if you watch it – I would welcome your questions and impressions.” |
|
|
|
|
 |
Legacy Giving Program
Our legacy giving program for those wanting to make a gift in their will to support women and children
As Katherine Roskob, CEO of the Fundraising Institute of Australia: says ‘a willed gift to a charity leaves a lasting legacy,’ AFR 23/03/24. It is also one of the most impactful ways to support causes you care about.
If you’re one of the millions of Australians who are considering leaving a gift in their will, but haven’t got around to it yet, we would be delighted if you’d consider a gift to Mary’s House Services, giving a lasting legacy of your care and generosity towards others.
Please contact Janine Wood, our Philanthropy Manager, or Yvette Vignando, our CEO for a confidential discussion about making a gift in your will to Mary’s House Services. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Pets can be harmed in domestic violence
Research has shown a strong correlation between domestic violence and abuse of pets. More than one in two women escaping domestic violence report that their partner has hurt one of their pets. And, one in three women delay leaving an abusive relationship because they are worried about their pets being mistreated if they are not around to protect them.
Mary’s House Services senior social worker says: ‘The maltreatment of family dogs or cats is a particularly insidious form of coercive control, it is also very effective, because it is so difficult for victims to flee with their pets.” Our skilled social workers help our clients to navigate options for animal welfare and temporary pet accommodation, relieving them of another worry in the process of seeking safety and recovery.
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Federal and state government announcements
Recent announcements from Federal and State governments have seen increased financial support to parts of the domestic and family violence sector and are welcomed.
While these announcements acknowledge the national crisis that our specialist staff deal with day to day, it's evident that the current confirmed funding falls short of what's needed to prevent and respond to the increasing demand for domestic violence support services.
Mary’s House Services receives no government funding for its refuge or specialist casework services for women living in the community impacted by violence and abuse, and none has been offered. Recently, some Federal government funding was distributed for more caseworkers in refuges, but the relevant State government department declined to provide information about how this would be distributed, and none was offered to our service.
Our frontline workers face an overwhelming surge in requests for support in domestic and family violence matters – from women in the northern suburbs region and others escaping to the northern suburbs, both self-referrers and those referred by health professionals, authorities, police, and other large services which receive government funding , including Lifeline, Jewish House, Link2home, Catholic Care, Wesley Mission, The Benevolent Society, and local hospitals.
We cannot ignore the alarming rise in women and their children seeking help - there is an urgent need for action. Recent statistics from BOCSAR (Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research) NSW, shed light on the gravity of the situation.
The main offences driving an increase in our states' adult remand population include domestic assault (up 35.7% on two years prior), sexual offences (up 30.1%), non-domestic assault (up 18.4%), intimidation, and stalking (up 96.1%). In March 2024, there were only 3,008 adults in custody for domestic violence offences, with over half (52.2%) on remand.
These statistics are confronting, especially when combined with reports from the NSW Police of over 500 calls per day regarding domestic and family violence.
National helplines receive over 20,000 calls a day.
The Mary's House Services team is doing its part in the community, and we are sharing this information to encourage your ongoing support and action - we can only support these vulnerable women and children with your help. From the team and the board, thank you for your care and generosity. |
|
|
|
|
Please mark your calendars |
 |
The Lakes charity golf day on July 4: golf is sold out lunch-only tickets are still available for a day of golfing for good at The Lakes Golf Club – auction Items welcomed.
Book now |
 |
Mary’s House Walk on October 27: join us for an easy grade 10km walk in North Sydney to stand against domestic and family violence. For early bird registrations:
Register now |
 |
Due to restricted capacity, our gala fundraising lunch will now be held in 2025 - if you have been a past attendee at our IWD lunch and other events, please consider instead a generous donation today. If you would like to be a sponsor of future events, please contact Janine Wood: janinew@maryshouse.org.au about a range of exciting opportunities. |
|
|
|
|
If you have read this far, I’m delighted, and grateful – it is only because you care, and your community cares, that we can continue our life-saving work. Please always feel free to contact me or Janine Wood on 02 8937 2094 to find out more about our work or how you can support us.
Kind regards
Yvette Vignando
CEO |
|
|
|
ABOUT US
Mary’s House Services was established in 2016, when motivated members of the community on Sydney’s north shore agreed to take direct, affirmative action on the issue of domestic violence to save lives. Mary’s House Services provides accommodation and professional wrap around services for women and their children escaping domestic abuse that enables our clients to be safe, hopeful and empowered to take the first steps in rebuilding their lives.
Our domestic and family abuse service delivery is 100% community funded and relies on the support of our local community and corporate partners. |
|
|
|
