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Dear Mary's House Services Supporters,
Your support and interest in our work helped us make great progress in 2023. Below, I’ve listed some milestones, provided 2024 dates for your calendar and I’m introducing you to our newest board directors.
Our team is kicking off the new year with development of a new strategic plan, underlining our commitment to gender equality which is one of the main drivers of domestic abuse of women. I look forward to sharing that with you.
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Progress in 2023
It has been a privilege to work with the Mary’s House team and board for the last eight months to lead our commitment to the safety of women and children. During that time, thanks to the generous financial support of a long-term donor, we were thrilled to add an additional full-time specialist domestic violence caseworker to our team. We also established a specialist Housing Coordinator role which is integral to our client care.
In 2023, we recruited a full-time Philanthropy and Communications Manager to increase our capacity to fund our work, and to look after our valued relationships with donors and partners. At the heart of our revenue goals is a commitment to increase the size of our service-delivery team and accommodation services, to support more women's choices to escape abusive relationships and rebuild their lives.
Our caseworkers' expertise led to many wonderful outcomes for clients including safe housing, new employment opportunities and important social connections. To read more about our work, please take a look at our Annual Report, which showcases some client journeys and offers insight to a day in the life of a social worker.
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Our Board
Mary’s House Services were delighted to welcome Josh Dowton to the board earlier in 2023. Towards the end of 2023, we were equally thrilled that Helen Conway and then David Scott joined our board.
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Karen Bevan
Chair of the Board |
Helen Conway
Board Director |
Claire Cooper
Board Director |
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Josh Dowton
Board Director |
Dr David Scott
Board Director |
You can read about
our board here. |
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Reporting of domestic abuse grows
- our need for support grows
We were grateful to see an increase in 2023 in the number of people who have chosen to make a regular monthly gift to Mary's House Services or have pledged to support us annually. These regular gifts and pledges increase our ability to plan service provision for the year.
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| Our summer appeal is underway, giving you the option of making a single gift or a regular gift to support our work. A gift of $55, for example, could cover the cost of a grocery or personal care gift card, and $350 could cover the cost of secure crisis accommodation in a safe hotel for a woman and her children in urgent need. |
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| During 2023, we were also grateful to be informed that more supporters have made the decision to leave a gift in their will to Mary’s House Services. Testamentary gifts can give a significant boost to our capacity and are deeply appreciated. |
Can you help us find
a supporting partner
for a critical new role?
We are searching for a multi-year
partner to fund a new role:
Intake and Referral social worker. |
Mary’s House Services receives many enquiries and requests for help from women who are victim-survivors of abuse, but also referrals from doctors, counsellors, hospitals, police, and other government services. Our social workers manage this inflow and assessment work, but it prevents them from supporting our existing clients.
To solve this challenge, we’d like to recruit an Intake and Referral social worker to expertly assess, triage, and refer the multiple requests for support. This role would free up our social workers to support more women with the ongoing support they need. Research shows that early intervention, safety services and expert referrals can prevent the worst from happening to a woman and her children.
If you would like to know more about why this role is important and the impact it will have, or you know a philanthropist who may be interested to discuss our needs, please contact Janine Wood, our Philanthropy and Communications Manager: janinew@maryshouse.org.au or 0432 445 206. |
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Please mark your calendars |
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Our Annual Gala Lunch event will not be held on International Women’s Day this year. A new date will be announced via email and social media. We are still actively seeking the right venue and sponsors.
Please email janinew@maryshouse.org.au with your suggestions. |
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Attention all golfers, an opportunity to play The Lakes. Golfing is good and can be for good. The Lakes Golf Club is generously donating their course to us for a Charity Golf Day on Thursday, 4th July. |
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An open forum in North Sydney, to say 'No' to domestic and family abuse in our community will be a must-attend, and planning is underway with a date to be posted within coming months. |
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Our annual Mary's House Walk will be held on Sunday, 27th October. |
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Thank you so much for standing with us as advocates, supporters, friends and volunteers and of course never to be forgotten our founders - your continued support is truly appreciated.
Kind regards
Yvette Vignando
CEO |
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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. |
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