Always Mum continues to grow

Always Mum is a unique 10-week programme supporting mothers with children who have been removed and are in out of home care. The programme helps them learn to be better mothers and to improve their relationships with their children. Since its inception in 2019, Lou's is proud to report that 102 mums have completed the programme, and 22 children have been restored to their mothers' care. Furthermore, Lou's has developed a strong partnership with Women's Legal Service NSW. This service provides mums with legal advice and education about the Child Protection System and Children's Court Process, as well as the opportunity to consult a solicitor for individual legal advice. In fact, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) in the NSW Children's Court documents it as a recommended programme for mothers to attend. As a result, we have received an increased number of referrals from both the DCJ and government-funded child protection services. 66% of the referrals from our current group are from DCJ case workers. 

Over the last six months, 22 mums have completed the programme, along with their 73 kids. We also provided Christmas support to 19 mums, which helped them to cover the cost of gifts and Christmas visits with their kids. We've received some great feedback from mums who've complete the programme:

What have I learnt in the last 10 weeks of Always Mum?

“Never give up."

“How to acknowledge my children’s feelings and thinking from a child’s perspective”

“To forgive myself.”

“There are places I can reach out to for support!"

What would my kids say if they knew I had done Always Mum?

“My mum finished mummy school.”

“They would be proud of their mum and the hard work she has done to bring them home where they belong.”

What advice would I give to other mums with kids in OOHC?

“Do Always Mum – you will feel like you have an army behind you.”

“Stay connected, reach out and build your village.”

Two new workshops within Always Mum

Always Mum is offering two new workshops under its umbrella. The play workshop aims to teach mums the power of play time. Many parents can find immersing themselves with their children in play a challenging experience. Mums are taught effective strategies such as child-guided play and hands on play activities. Mums are also taught P.R.I.D.E. communication skills: praise, reflect, imitate, describe and enthusiasm. Together, these skills assist mums in promoting positive behaviours and relationships with their children. Ten mums attended our recent workshop, and it was great to see them come together to learn in a collaborative and therapeutic space. Their feedback was positive, with all mums expressing how much they enjoyed tuning in to their inner child and having fun.   

The self-care workshop teaches mums critical skills for true self-care. Mothers with children in out of home care devote a lot of time to completing programmes, attending children’s court and meetings with the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ). Combined with ensuring meaningful, positive contact with their kids, finding time for self-care can be difficult. The workshop explored the importance of self-care in stressful situations. Mums discussed difficult acts of self-care, including eating well, getting adequate sleep and exercise, and attending counselling sessions. They then brainstormed different self-care activities such as: connecting with a community, meditation and mindfulness practices, and progressive muscle relaxation, all of which are easily accessible and low cost. 14 mums attended this workshop. Again, it was met with positive feedback and requests to run similar workshops on a more regular basis. It was encouraging to see the mums provide one another with support and encouragement, and to validate each other’s experiences. 

Connecting Through Change

Photographer: Anna Turner

Lou's now offers "Connecting Through Change," a 7-week face to face programme which investigates the drivers and impact of domestic and family violence. The aim of the programme is to focus on victims' and survivors' strength and resilience to help them through their healing journey. It explores themes such as a woman's place in society and the impact of gender inequality, as well as the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships. It also helps women to identify warning signs within their relationships, and it explores the importance of boundaries and how to implement them. Lastly, the programme investigates self-care as a lifestyle, rather than a singular event. It provides women with an understanding of how the brain works, and it offers practical and accessible strategies to implement self-care. Seven women have just completed the programme. One of the participants described the programme as "extraordinary and simple...that has provided a lot of clarity about what is okay and not okay in my life." Lou's is looking forward to offering this programme to more women throughout the year.

Lou's Place welcomes new staff members

Shazya Singh came to Lou's Place as a student in September 2022. She loves the culture of acceptance, inclusivity, advocacy. She has a BSc (Psychology) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Social Work from the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP). She also has experience in consumer research and insights. In February 2023, Shazya joined the staff in her new role as the Domestic and Family Violence Case Manager. In addition, she facilitates the "Connecting through Change" program. Shazya says, "I love how each stakeholder, from staff to board members, volunteers to our charity partners, contributes to making Lou's Place a safe space for women. To me, Lou's Place is a community of strong, resilient women, that celebrates diversity and always operates with a person-centred approach." 

Hannah Kelly joined Lou’s Place as an Intake and Administration Support Officer in September 2022. She's loved working here since the first day. She completed a Diploma of Community Services at TAFE in February 2022 and she has experience working as a youth mentor, and a marketing and administration assistant. Hannah is drawn to the sense of community at Lou’s, as well as the fact that it helps women by meeting them at their point of need. She loves being able to empower women and provide them with dignity and respect. And, she appreciates being part of a supportive and hardworking team. She says it helps "to be able to lean on one another and come to each other for advice."

Lou's has a new freezer

A big thank you to the Potts Point Rotary Group, who donated the funds to purchase an additional freezer. They have been such good supporters of Lou's Place.

Rebecca Fitzpatrick, Board Member, and Brigit, Rotary Volunteer

Lou's Closet 2023

We are very excited to announce that the 2023 Lou's Closet will once again be open for business on May 1st and 2nd at the Manly Golf club. Come and discover gorgeous clothes and accessories in an ever surprising and spectacular range of donations. 

The sale of good quality second-hand clothes at Lou's Closet has raised more thank $650,000 over the past 12 years for the vulnerable women who visit Lou's Place drop-in centre. Most of the women who visit have experienced multiple traumas with the majority facing issues of homelessness, domestic violence. mental health and drug and alcohol abuse. 

A Poem from Creative Writing Class

As I traversed this wilderness
taking out the lightkeeper's position, 
shining bright like a diamond
so I could walk where I needed to
in the light and the love evermore.
The negatives gave it all away, super saturated, undercover,
the version of my mother and her dressing table,
how enchanting
truly chaos
only the refracted, reflected image was unseen. 
I was lost, then in an instant seen. 

Anonymous

Lou's Place Christmas 2022

Santa’s elves - Lou’s Volunteers

The Lou's Team

Photographer: Amanda Lawson

Lou's Place is getting busier

It has been another busy few months at Lou’s Place. The numbers continue to grow (539 visits in June and 493 visits in July), which requires the team to be adaptable and flexible to ensure that the service continues to deliver what the women need. A considerable amount of networking has occurred to grow awareness of Lou’s, and also to identify what other services are available to support our clients. 

With increasing attendance rates, the number of clients requesting support in terms of referrals, advocacy and in-house appointments continues to climb. More women are attending volunteer-led activities, and volunteers have commented on the 'happy vibe' in their activities. There's also a 'round the family table feel' at lunch times with raucous conversation. In fact, the demand for meals has increased by over half. The aroma of a home-cooked meal is certainly enticing when you walk in the door. It is great to see Lou's filling up again after so much disruption from COVID restrictions.

Lou's Place now has a meeting place for mums and their kids

Our new location has allowed Lou’s Place to offer space for mothers who have had children taken away and placed in out of home care. It's a warm and welcoming room for their supervised visits with their children who are in out of home care. Many mums that we work with don't have a suitable space to meet with their kids. As a result, they spend limited time together in the local Department of Communities and Justice office. This can be traumatizing, and many mums comment that this environment restricts their ability to bond with their kids. 

Mothers feel comfortable in the safe and familiar meeting place at Lou's, with access to age-appropriate toys, books, games and activities. They are provided with emotional support before and after contact.  They're also able to seek parenting advice prior to contact with their children and reflect on this after spending time with them. We're thrilled that we're now able to offer this comfortable and safe space for our mothers. 

The Career Support Programme

The Career Support Programme at Lou's Place offers one to one assistance for women in their search for employment. It comprises guidance with writing resumes and cover letters, making online applications, setting up job alerts and interview practice. Recently, a participant reviewed her resume with the support of the programme, which led to an interview for a role. She then attended a practice session where her answers were refined, and she was prepared for tricky questions that might be asked in the interview. We are thrilled that she has secured a role in a profession which she loves (and has more than doubled her salary). The Careers Support Programme is now supporting her with the completion of her on-boarding and accreditation paperwork.

Lou's welcomes Amanda Greaney as General Manager

Amanda (Mandy) started at Lou’s Place as General Manager in March 2022. She comes to Lou’s with over 20 years of leadership experience, predominantly in community services for women and children. She is passionate about social justice, ensuring that the most vulnerable within our community are supported to access their rights. She is highly experienced in multi-service outlet management, and she has extensive programme experience with disabilities, homelessness, domestic and family violence, youth, child protection, early intervention services and gambling.

Born in Goulburn, Mandy travelled around the country extensively with her family, spending most of her youth in Sydney and the Queensland coast. She developed a desire to work in community services, specifically homelessness, after meeting people in squats and refuges, and on the streets. She realised that they were homeless for a variety of reasons:  "It became obvious to me that they were often invisible. Worse than that, if they were seen, people didn’t value them. It made me so sad." She began to volunteer her time, and her career sprang from there.

Mandy has a little hut in the woods where she likes to spend her spare time, just disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life. If she's not there, you'll find her chilling out in her van by the ocean. Mandy brings tremendous enthusiasm and empathy to her work at Lou's. Please drop in to say hi to her when you next visit.

Alice Di Maggio, Case Manager (Always Mum)

Alice started at Lou’s Place in May 2022 as the Always Mum Program Case Manager.  She holds a Bachelor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, and a Master of Social Work. She has spent time working with children and families in early intervention, domestic and family violence and out of home care. Alice has extensive knowledge of domestic and family violence and trauma-informed practice. She values building trust and safety as the cornerstone of therapeutic working relationships. Lou's welcomes Alice to the team.

Lou's New Mural

Volunteer art teacher Deborah Mills was invited to paint a mural for the courtyard. It was suggested to include a tree, and that it be happy and uplifting.  Deb had never painted a mural before, as she usually works on a much smaller scale. However, she learnt as she went along, with assistance from Lou's clients, Sera, Clare, Katherine and her granddaughter Grace, who all come to Deb's art classes. Deb also enlisted her friend Mary, a fellow artist, to work with her on the mural.

Deb chose bright colours, including Lou’s orange, to bring light and space to the formerly dark courtyard. New clients in the adjacent dining area offered their suggestions and feedback to Deb and her team as they painted, making it a truly collaborative effort. Many thanks to Deborah and her team for brightening up our courtyard!

Games Mornings at Lou's

Lou’s Place has introduced a volunteer-run Friday games morning. It’s a great way for the clients to interact with each other. Over the last few weeks, we've had up to 8 participants a session. The volunteers have had such fun playing with the women, and the laughter that it brings is heart-warming.  We’ve even roped in the kitchen volunteers with answering Trivial Pursuit questions. Some favourites are Jenga, Trivial Pursuit, Snakes and Ladders, Hedbanz, and card games. It opens up easy conversation among the women.  There is certainly a sense of ‘when can we do this again?’ at the end of each session.

Lou's Closet 2022

Our Lou's Closet sale was held in May at the Manly Golf Club for the second time, resulting in another extraordinary year of selling second-hand designer wear. We raised over $112, 000! We were very lucky to receive a huge quantity of new designer wear from Belinda International, so we created a “Designer Emporium” in a separate room of the golf club. This proved to be a huge success with both customers and volunteers.

The annual curation of the closet requires an enormous amount of work, but our incredible team of volunteers give their time with tremendous enthusiasm. The buzz and the banter radiating through the room makes all that hard work worthwhile.

We're already planning for 2023, and we'll send out a save the date notice in due course. If you've been cleaning out your wardrobes ready for summer, and would like to donate to next year's closet, please call us. We'd be happy to collect your donated items. From the closet team organisers, a heartfelt thank you, and we look forward to seeing you all next year. Jenny Pridham and Jo Hyde. M: 0414 942 725.

Lou's Closet Volunteers: Alison Harris, Helen Tample, Jakk Armstrong

Lou's Closet Volunteer, Alexia Spalding

Volunteers, Janine Haelfeli and Marie Louise Roche

Lou's Closet Committee, Jenny Pridham

Lou's Volunteers run a Bunnings Sausage Sizzle

Even though the day dawned cold and wet, a great day was had at Alexandria Bunnings on Saturday, 3rd September.  We got through 77 kg of sausages and 50 loaves of bread, plus quite a few litres of sauce. We made a profit of $3,295. An enthusiastic core team of eight volunteers were joined by a rolling shift of two people every two hours. The day was a tremendous success, and we hope to run it again next year. Many thanks to Bunnings, Alexandria, for this fundraising opportunity.

Maraynne Galea, Sarah Nelson, Jennie Forsyth, Jan Davies, Rowan Davies and Marijke Conrade

Volunteers, Jan Davies and Maryanne Galea

Volunteer, Maryanne Galea

Volunteer BBQ chefs, Peter Forsyth, Rob Fitzpatrick and Rowan Davies

Creative Writing Class

Every week, a group of women sit down with a cup of tea, pen and paper to participate in an hour of creative writing. We write letters, short stories and poems. It's light and funny at times, and sometimes it makes us cry. But it's also encouraging and uplifting to share our writing with each other.

FEET

Time is of the essence to all things great.

How much and how long.

To adjust to time and allow things to flow.

To trust, when you've trusted before and had that

thrust to the floor.

To be just.

Justice is the law.

The freedom to be brings whispers from the trees.

Solid with long roots that have a life.

Only to be chopped down with a single blow.

What for Greed?

It is a creed that most people need.

To belong to what, what is their needs?

Needs are real, so why do people hide them?

So they remain 'whole', or is that 'hole'?

Dark and deep they seep into what they reap.

So why don't they weep from across the street?

Because they have no feet!

What to say to the people you meet.

How's your feet?

Anonymous

Settling into Redfern

Every week our new premises in Redfern feel more like home. Many clients have found their way from Victoria Street to 67 Renwick Street. There are many familiar faces, as well as new faces popping in to find help, community and a safe space. While we continued to run our important therapeutic programs during the pandemic via zoom, we are thrilled to have our in-person groups back up and running.  Slowly we are returning to the activities and events that give Lou’s the community and laughter we all missed during lockdown.

But there is still much to do. We are a new member of a diverse community in Redfern with a rich history of social services.  Now that restrictions are lifted, we are getting out and meeting our new neighbours, and learning a lot about aligned services and community centres. Some of these services we have known and worked with for years, but others are new to us.  We are discussing the best ways we can work together to efficiently help more women; how we can offer complimentary services, ensuring we are not duplicating our efforts. There is strength and efficiencies working together.

It feels great to be in Redfern. It feels great to have our long-term home.

Volunteering at Lou’s Place

There is nothing quite like the feeling of comfort and goodwill when you walk into our lovely New Lou’s, to be greeted by the aroma of a delicious home cooked meal.  Added to that, the friendly atmosphere generated by lively and jovial conversations coming from our specialist activities, you have a very special place indeed. The unique talents and various backgrounds of our volunteers bring together a common sense of purpose; women helping women.

COVID and our move to Redfern have given us a unique opportunity to reset and expand our volunteer services.  We finally have room to run simultaneous activities on both levels of the house. We’ve added cooking classes twice a month, Reiki, an additional yoga/meditation session, and guitar lessons. We have a hairdresser starting in April and we’ve also held a couple of successful budgeting workshops. We are always open to new ideas!

The Pop-Up Boutique deserves a special mention, as it’s one activity which has not moved with us to the New Lou’s. When Lou’s first opened its doors, access to quality clothing was not easy for our women. Our famous Pop-Up was established by a set of dedicated volunteers. It went through many iterations from once a month to once a week to once every two weeks. It once had its own room (later turned into a case management room), and was supported in recent years by Kennards, who generously donated storage to us. Clothing donations were made both to Lou’s directly and to Kennard’s. Our incredible team sorted, cleaned and managed all donations, while helping to provide emergency clothing the staff needed on site for women in crisis. The team would magically turn our living room into a “shop” and back again in just 3 hours.  We cannot thank our boutique ladies enough for their generosity, good spirit and love for Lou’s clients.

So how do our women access clothing now? There are a number of specialised services in the community that run specific programs providing clothing and styling to our women. Our women have access to this through tailored online ordering (often assisted by their case manager), mobile “dressing rooms” (tailored trucks that come directly to services like ours) and access to their “shops”.

Always busy at Lou’s Place, the space opened up by outsourcing the Boutique has already been filled by an expansion of our professional program work on site. Watch out boutique ladies - we still need you in house for other tasks!

If you are interested in volunteering with us at Lou’s Place, or know someone who might be, please do not hesitate to reach out via our website.