Kindness Calls
Nicole Yade, general manager of Lou’s Place, initiated ‘Kindness Calls,’ to help our clients cope with the isolation of COVID-19. The calls have enabled Lou’s Place volunteers to stay in touch with clients, and they give some comfort to the many vulnerable women currently unable to access the service.
Nicole Yade, general manager of Lou’s Place, initiated ‘Kindness Calls,’ to help our clients cope with the isolation of COVID-19. The calls have enabled Lou’s Place volunteers to stay in touch with clients, and they give some comfort to the many vulnerable women currently unable to access the service. Volunteers have been trained and then paired with a client for twice-weekly phone conversations. It has been a simply wonderful experience for both volunteers and clients.
From her response, I know she hugely appreciates the time we spend on the phone, when we can share thoughts, ideas and even swap recipes. We talk a great deal about music, which we both love. I have even been able to teach her some simple things, which is something quite unique for me, as a music teacher used to “in person” students. But, with her little keyboard, she is learning to play simple melodies which bring her great pleasure. I listen over my phone as she proudly plays what she has practised. What she does is remarkable for one with severe disabilities, and she is thrilled, but not as thrilled as I am. For me, Kindness Calls have been an unparalleled way of supporting the women who come to Lou’s Place and one which has been mutually rewarding.
Carol, Volunteer
Handmade face masks
Jennie, a volunteer who usually runs a weekly sewing class at Lou’s, has been making face masks for staff and clients. She has been using her own material supplies, but as many people have begun making masks at home.
Jennie, a volunteer who usually runs a weekly sewing class at Lou’s, has been making face masks for staff and clients. She has been using her own material supplies, but as many people have begun making masks at home, Jennie has had difficulty sourcing elastic. She said,
“Luckily we did a road trip a few weeks back and I bought a few more packets in Gunnedah. I think I’ve made close to 100 but I’ve lost count, I just sew a few every couple of days and drop them in to Lou’s.”
Many thanks, Jennie, for your beautiful handiwork!
Calm Together
Calm Together is a series of trauma-informed relaxation sessions for Women which began in March as a response to COVID-19. The daily relaxation sessions are conducted by Lou's Place staff members, and focus on different aspects of movement, breath, and mindfulness. Its intention is to provide an opportunity to calm, ground and connect with ourselves as well as our community. These brief sessions have been created specifically with beginners in mind.
Calm Together is a series of trauma-informed relaxation sessions for Women which began in March as a response to COVID-19. The daily relaxation sessions are conducted by Lou's Place staff members, and focus on different aspects of movement, breath, and mindfulness. Its intention is to provide an opportunity to calm, ground and connect with ourselves as well as our community. These brief sessions have been created specifically with beginners in mind.
Calm Together is open to the entire Lou’s community - friends, colleagues, workers, clients, and their families. Lou’s Place is also an accredited Work and Development Order (WDO) provider. Clients can therefore access Calm Together to complete their WDO as an alternative to paying off their fines. This is significant because many services acting as WDO providers have closed during COVID-19, making it difficult for clients to complete their WDO. Calm Together has had such a positive impact for many, and one client has enthusiastically declared that ‘GRATITUDE is my new ATTITUDE!’
Calm Together runs from Monday to Friday at 2:00 pm via teleconference.
Simply call: 1800 556 264. Password: 27 11 571#
A Woman’s Worth
We are currently preparing for the third round of A Woman’s Worth, a 4-week online domestic violence education group facilitated by case worker Brianna. The course adapts our regular face-to-face Women, Choice & Change group so that we can continue to offer it during COVID-19.
We are currently preparing for the third round of A Woman’s Worth, a 4-week online domestic violence education group facilitated by case worker Brianna. The course adapts our regular face-to-face Women, Choice & Change group so that we can continue to offer it during COVID-19.
The course covers topics such as warning signs, the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships, what violence looks and feels like, boundaries, communication, self-esteem and self-care. The group has been a great success, with 27 women completing the course to date. This course has attracted a diverse range of clients to Lou’s Place, including women we don’t often see at the centre. Some of these women are housed and are in long-term, stable employment. We have welcomed numerous new referrals from domestic violence court services, rehab centres, as well as self-referrals.
As a response to the domestic violence education provided, some women have made the big decision to leave their relationships. Many of the participants in the most recent round of A Woman's Worth are going on to complete another online well-being group, The Upward Spiral, currently in its second round. Brianna commented that for the clients who successfully complete one course, and then enrol in another, it’s a clear indication of how much they are enjoying and benefiting from these online groups.
Accommodation for Lou’s clients
As COVID-19 has seen a significant shift in the way we work, Lou’s Place volunteered to work with Neami National, The Department of Family and Community Services and Justice, as well as Housing NSW, to find safe, permanent accommodation for Lou’s clients. Neami is a community-based organization that provides services to improve mental health and wellbeing in local communities.
As COVID-19 has seen a significant shift in the way we work, Lou’s Place volunteered to work with Neami National, The Department of Family and Community Services and Justice, as well as Housing NSW, to find safe, permanent accommodation for Lou’s clients.
Neami is a community-based organization that provides services to improve mental health and wellbeing in local communities. With over fifty new referrals since the beginning of COVID-19, staff have welcomed this collaboration, supporting long-term rough sleepers to navigate the multitude of services and systems required to find accommodation.
On Thursday 30 July, we held an Open Day for our new community members, providing them with self-care packages. One client commented that she really appreciated learning more about the services that Lou’s Place offers. Another client said that time spent with staff and volunteers helped to ease her social anxiety.
The relationships that Lou’s Place has built with these organizations, provides assurance that we will be able to continue to support our clients in their search for permanent accommodation.
A note from our social work students
We are truly humbled by the strength and resilience of the women who come to Lou’s Place, as well as the dedication of the staff and volunteers who support them and coordinate the therapeutic programmes.
We are truly humbled by the strength and resilience of the women who come to Lou’s Place, as well as the dedication of the staff and volunteers who support them and coordinate the therapeutic programmes. We have not only had the opportunity to apply our skills and knowledge, but equally we’ve been able to learn from the stories and experiences shared by Lou’s clients. We can only imagine what the house would be like, full of interesting groups and fun activities! We have learned so much and cannot thank Lou’s Place enough for the learning opportunities provided. Finally, a big thank you to Nicole, general manager, and her dedicated team for their continuing support of the women who access the service.
We wish you all the best!
Kind Regards,
Harshita and Elizabeth
Social Work Students