2018 2019 Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist ...
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2018 - 2019
1
Contents Who We Are..............................................................4
Our Vision, Mission and Values............................5
Service Structure.......................................................6
Herstory.....................................................................8
Board of Management...........................................9
Liberty Team..............................................................10
Message from Our Chair.......................................12
Message from Our CEO.........................................13
2
Liberty Domestic and Family
Violence Specialist Services
PO Box 431
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
P: 02 6583 2155
Our Strategic Direction............................................14 E: info@libertyservices.org.au
libertyservices.org.au
Partnerships..............................................................15
Community Support................................................16
Events and Activities................................................18
Improving Inclusion.................................................20
Specialist Domestic Violence Support Report......22
Specialist Housing Report.......................................25
Advocacy and Prevention Report..........................29
3
Who We Are
Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services provides
specialist support and housing services to women and families
affected by domestic and family violence and homelessness in
the Port Macquarie Hastings region.
The organisation was formed in 1980 as the Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge Inc. and has since evolved
and expanded to provide a wide range of services to those in need of domestic violence and homelessness
support.
Our specialist support team help families through all stages of their journey towards safety. From helping a
woman in the peak of crisis secure a safe place to stay, through to supporting her as she navigates the various
services available.
We also work towards eliminating domestic and family violence by providing prevention and education
programs in the local community and running men’s behaviour change programs.
At Liberty we take a whole-of-family and whole-of-community approach - while remaining focused on our
central goal of keeping women and children safe.
Our Services
• Specialist domestic and family violence support
• Emergency supported accommodation
• Transitional housing
• Safety planning for women and children escaping domestic and family violence
• Case management/case coordination planning for women and children
• Brokerage and links to other services
• Information and advocacy relating to domestic and family violence and/or homelessness
• Homelessness/housing support through Specialist Housing Support Project co-located with Community
Housing Ltd
• Domestic and family violence support co-located with Family and Community Services
• Education programs and support groups
• Registered Men’s Behaviour Change Programs - Engage2Change and Fixed Address
4
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Our Vision
A safe community where women and children are empowered to achieve their potential
Our Mission
To lead a community and whole of family response to eliminate domestic and family violence and
homelessness
Our Values
• Respect – Respect for self and others and valuing diversity
• Empathy – Acknowledging the unique experience and feelings of another to empower change
• Integrity – Modelling ethical practice that is honest and engenders trust
• Empowerment – Enabling people to make choices and develop personal capacities that will lead to lasting
positive change in their lives
• Quality – Standards and supports that are current and consistent to deliver positive outcomes for families
and community
• Innovation – We promote flexibility and creativity in all we do
Liberty
lib.er.ty noun
The quality or state of being free:
• the power to do as one pleases
• freedom from physical restraint
• freedom from control
• the positive enjoyment of various social, political or economic rights and privileges
• the power of choice
www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/liberty
5
Service Structure
Specialist Domestic and Specialist Housing
Family Violence Support Services
Liberty Cottage Community Galbaan Transitional
Outreach Centre Partnerships House Crisis Housing
Welcoming space for DFV specialist Accommodation Housing support
women to access a services delivered 5 x family rooms in 18 transitional
range of specialist through co-location communal living properties
DFV services partnerships with: home Partners include:
• Family and Intensive DFV • Community
Community support Housing Ltd
Outreach Support Services Case management • Mission Australia
DFV specialist • Community Brokerage support Housing
services Housing Ltd Information and • Centacare
Case management referral services Housing
Brokerage support Advocacy
Housing support
Information and
referral services
Advocacy
6
Advocacy and
Programs
Prevention
MATE / Bystander Men’s Behaviour Dusk Wellness Program
Education and Change (MBC) Supportive 8 Wellbeing programs
intervention Registered MBC week program for and activities to
program programs for men women who have build confidence
who are ready to experienced DFV and connection
work towards
non-violence
Kids Club Community
10 week after- Education
Engage2Change school program Tailored DFV
12 week program for children aged education training
delivered by 8 to 12 who have for workplaces
experienced experienced DFV and groups
practitioners
Women &
Children’s
Advocacy
Fixed Address
DFV specialist
Innovative new
services to support
program keeping
partners and
children of MBC
women and “You took my safety seriously.
children safe
program participants You were always friendly,
Transitional housing
options and case compassionate and respectful.”
management
for men
7
Herstory
In 1980, a group of local women created a safe place for women
and children affected by domestic violence in the community.
Almost 40 years later, Liberty now provides a broad range of
specialist domestic violence and homelessness support services.
This is our proud history (we prefer to call it our ‘herstory’) of four decades of working to
secure funding to provide crisis accommodation and support services for women and
children in need.
1980 Hastings Council allowed the temporary occupation of a Council property at 45 Savoy St, Port Macquarie for a
temporary Refuge
1983 Relocated from Savoy St to another Council property at 23 Murray St, Port Macquarie (Killara House)
1984 Council requested the property at 23 Murray St be vacated by September 1984
1984 Department of Housing purchase a property in Port Macquarie for Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge
1985 Department of Community Services agree to provide funding under the Supported Accommodation Assistance
Program to provide support to women and children escaping domestic violence
1988 Department of Housing approved funds under CAP for the purchase of land and design and construction of a new
Refuge
1988 Block of land purchased through Murray Turnham Real Estate (1266sqm)
1990 A design for the new Refuge is accepted by Management Committee
1994 Letter sent from the Committee to Department of Housing requesting the property purchased in 1984 soon to be
vacated (relocation to new purpose-built Refuge) be provided back to the Refuge as medium-term accommodation
for the client group
1994 Relocate to new purpose-built Refuge
2007 Innovation & Investment Funding Project
2009 Funded under Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Services Program to deliver new Project –
Community Partnerships Against Domestic and Family Violence (CPADFV)
2009 Opening of our Outreach Centre – “Liberty Cottage”
2014 Won the tender in the Going Home Staying Home (GHSH) Reform process to continue service delivery under SHS for
an additional three-year period until end June 2017
2014 Received an additional two years funding for CPADFV Program until end June 2016
2015 Formed consortium with Kempsey Family Support Services and Warrina Domestic and Family Violence Specialist
Services for successful tender to pilot Men’s Behaviour Change Program in Coffs Harbour - Engage2Change
Mid North Coast
2016 Additional funding received for a two year period under the Domestic Violence Response Enhancement (DVRE) to
support the development of our after-hours response
2017 Organisation purchases outreach property in Table St for Liberty Cottage
2018 Liberty Cottage relocated to specially-renovated premises in Table St
Organisation launched its new name, Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services, and refreshed logo
2019 Fixed Address Men’s Behaviour Change program launched, Women NSW Innovation Funding
8
Board of Management
Michelle Vassallo Sandra Magann Caron Dyball
CHAIR TREASURER BOARD
Catherine Vallentine Jo Marchingo Debbie Moore
BOARD BOARD BOARD
Thank you to former Vice Chair Sharon Sykes who vacated her position during the 2018-19 year.
“The service has made a difference
in my life and my children’s lives.”
9
Liberty Team
Kelly Lamb Jenna Bamborough-Lahey Carla Davis
CEO SPECIALIST DOMESTIC SPECIALIST HOUSING MANAGER
VIOLENCE MANAGER
Ulla Inki-Gilabert Troye Barker Jessica Denham
ADVOCACY AND PREVENTION WORK PLACEMENT STUDENT DOMESTIC AND FAMILY
MANAGER VIOLENCE SPECIALIST
Daisy Dransfield Cassanda Hardie Donna Harper
DOMESTIC AND FAMILY DOMESTIC AND FAMILY WOMEN AND CHILDREN’S
VIOLENCE SPECIALIST VIOLENCE SPECIALIST ADVOCATE
10Brooke Maggs Cameron McKinley-Rodgers Alison Neale
PREVENTION AND AWARENESS MEN’S BEHAVIOUR CHANGE DOMESTIC AND FAMILY
SPECIALIST, TRAINING AND SPECIALIST VIOLENCE SPECIALIST
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Michelle Parker Leanne Parsons Rochell Stewart
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER DOMESTIC AND FAMILY DOMESTIC AND FAMILY
VIOLENCE SPECIALIST VIOLENCE SPECIALIST
“You are my freedom
angels. It is a good
feeling to walk with
my head held high.”
Sharon Wilson Kelly Wyatt Laura Weston
DOMESTIC AND FAMILY DOMESTIC AND FAMILY DOMESTIC AND FAMILY
VIOLENCE SPECIALIST VIOLENCE SPECIALIST VIOLENCE SPECIALIST
11Message from our Chair
Many hands have brought Liberty to life over
many years. I am extremely proud to have
taken on the role of Chair in late 2018, at an
exciting time marked by the rebranding of
the organisation and the relocation of Liberty
Cottage.
Domestic violence is a national crisis with local impacts. On average, one
woman a week is killed by her partner or former partner in Australia. 1 in 4
children are exposed to DV. 339 DV-related and sexual assault incidents were
reported to Hastings Police last year.
Liberty is working hard to deepen awareness of this important issue. Liberty continues to lead a whole-of-
community response to eliminate domestic violence in the Port Macquarie Hastings through prevention,
advocacy and education programs, community awareness events and forging strategic partnerships to
improve outcomes.
From our foundation in 1980 as the Hastings Women and Children’s Refuge, we have expanded to offer a wider
range of services and take a whole-of-family approach.
Our ongoing Consortium agreement with Kempsey Family Services and Warrina Domestic and Family Violence
Specialist Services in Coffs Harbour further strengthens our ability to provide much-needed specialist services
across the Mid North Coast. As part of that Consortium, this year we were proud to launch the Fixed Address
program, which explores new ways to engage men to reduce domestic violence by providing housing and
specialist case management, focused on keeping women and children safe.
I would like to thank CEO Kelly Lamb for her strategic vision and guidance and to congratulate the whole team
for their achievements this past year. Every dedicated team member plays an integral role in carrying out the
important work Liberty delivers in our local community. Thank you.
On behalf of the Board I would like to acknowledge the work of former Vice Chair Sharon Sykes who vacated
her position during the past year.
To my fellow Board members, thank you for your valuable contributions to the governance of the organisation.
I am so pleased to have joined an organisation with such a long, proud history, and it is an honour and a
privilege to be a part of its future.
Michelle Vassallo
12Message from our CEO
This has been an extraordinary year for Liberty.
We have made a significant investment in our
community, organisation and people – a new
name, new location, renovations, expanded
services, a growing and developing team,
and new partnerships in our community.
Our Strategic Plan brings our vision, mission and values to life and has guided
our renewed focus on client outcomes and operational improvements.
It was an honour to have our achievements recognised as the Winner of the Community and Social Services
award at the 2019 Greater Port Macquarie Business Awards.
Our renaming and rebranding project has ensured a clear alignment with our purpose and increased our
visibility in the community. It sets a strong foundation for our ongoing expansion as we seek new funding and
opportunities to respond to our community’s needs.
We realised a long-term goal late last year, with the relocation of our Liberty Cottage Outreach Centre to our
property at 22 Table St, creating a warm and welcoming space for our team to support women and children.
Our Galbaan House Crisis Accommodation also underwent significant renovation including new office spaces
and an upgrade of The Retreat, which hosts support group meetings.
We are working towards compliance with the Australian Service Excellence Standards, soon to be adopted
by the Specialist Homelessness Services sector, and the new Practice Standards for Men’s Behaviour Change
Programs. As part of our quality improvement, we are undertaking a review of all existing policies and
procedures to meet current standards and best practice.
Liberty continues to upskill and cross-skill our growing team, to provide a better experience for the women
and children we support. We recruited our first male employee in our almost 40-year history. We have adopted
the industry Workforce Capability Framework to support the development of our team and leaders. Our
self-care and professional supervision provisions for team members have been expanded, so that staff can
access the support they need. Our team recently completed a six-month program, Practice Exchange, that has
enabled us to review and develop our practice and improve our responses.
We are making a measurable difference in the lives of families affected by domestic violence while also
focusing on primary prevention, challenging gender inequality and educating the community as we work
towards eliminating DV in the Port Macquarie-Hastings.
I would like to thank the Board of Management for your support, the Leadership Team for your dedication to
our shared vision, and to the whole Liberty team for the compassion and capability you demonstrate as we
work towards a safe community where women and children are empowered to achieve their potential.
Kelly Lamb
13Our Strategic Direction
Our Strategic Plan focuses on four key areas that drive us to grow
and develop as an organisation to provide the best responses
to those impacted by domestic and family violence in our local
community.
Focus Area Goal Objectives
OUTCOMES FOCUSED yy Client centred, outcomes
SERVICE DELIVERY By 2021 Liberty will provide focused services
services and programs that yy Community safety
are designed and delivered yy Productive partnerships
for outcomes yy Growth linked to
outcomes
CULTURE AND TEAM By 2021 Liberty will attract
and retain a highly skilled yy Cohesive culture and
and satisfied workforce resilience
that will be empowered to yy Leader development
deliver high quality specialist yy Team development
services
COMMUNITY AND By 2021 Liberty will have a
STAKEHOLDER clear alignment between yy Branding and strategic
RELATIONSHIPS our purpose and brand communications
and be better known
and understood by all yy Mutually beneficial
its key current and future stakeholder relationships
stakeholders
QUALITY SYSTEMS AND
PROCESSES yy Quality framework
By 2021 all Liberty systems
yy Improved information
and processes will be fully
technology
compliant
yy Policy and procedure
14Partnerships
We are committed to maintaining strong networks with other
service providers, both government and non-government, within
our community to improve outcomes for clients. Over the past
year, Liberty has strengthened existing relationships and formed
a number of new productive partnerships.
Mid North Coast Consortium
Our Memorandum of Understanding with Kempsey Family Services and Warrina Domestic and Family Violence
Specialist Services in Coffs Harbour continues to provide benefits. The Consortium members work together
to deliver the Engage2Change and Fixed Address Men’s Behaviour Change programs, as well as providing a
supportive and collegial network of specialist DV services across the Mid North Coast.
Lifeline
This year we entered into a partnership with Lifeline Mid North Coast. Lifeline provides our clients with safe
and respectful access to goods, while helping us manage our received donations.
Community Housing Limited
CHL provides transitional housing properties for our clients and offers us an interview space for meetings with
the men we support in our Men’s Behaviour Change programs.
Family and Community Services
Our DV specialists are co-located at Family and Community Services offices to provide immediate support to
clients in need of domestic violence services.
RSPCA
We are the first non-metropolitan organisation to participate in the RSPCA’s Safe Families Framework offering
a pet inclusive crisis accommodation, which will enable more women to leave violent relationships, avoid
distress caused by separation from pets, and provide benefits of the human-animal bond.
Our team is actively involved with numerous interagencies and committees including:
• Bearley Aboriginal Interagency • District Homelessness Implementation Group
• Hastings Community Network • NSW Men’s Behaviour Change Network
• Port Macquarie-Hastings Domestic Violence • CIMS Practitioner Advisory Group
Committee (Chair) • Redressing Aboriginal Homelessness Reference
• Homelessness Awareness Committee Group & Community of Practice
• Hastings Child and Family Interagency Group • Aboriginal Advisory Committee, Mid North Coast
• Child Protection Network Subcommittee Local Health District
• Local Implementation and Co-ordination Committee • Local Coordination Point Safety Action Meeting
• Hastings Homelessness Network • People with Disability Australia Community of
Practice
• Domestic Violence Response Enhancement
Subcommittee • Pride in Diversity Community of Practice
15Community Support
Liberty is an active and integral part of our local community and we
are fortunate to receive generous donations and in-kind support
from craft, sporting and community groups, schools, businesses
and organisations. Thank you to our wonderful supporters.
• Blokes Notes • Dixon Foundation
• Byabarra Community Connection • Green Leaves Port Macquarie
• Camden Haven Dragon Boats Inc • Handcrafts with the Nannas of the Lost Art
• Camden Haven Quilters • Hastings Business Women’s Network
• Hastings Ladies Social Golf Club
• Camden Haven Red Cross Branch
• HB Productions
• Catholic Care of the Aged
• Inner Wheel Club of Port Macquarie West
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
• International Women’s Day – Hastings Heroines
• Country Women’s Association Event Committee
• Day View Club • Investing for Charity
• Department of Human Services Social Club • Kendall Craft Co-Op
16• Ladies Chat and Do • Rotary Club of Port Macquarie
• Ladies Probus Club of Hastings • Saint Peters Lutheran Church
• Little Glimpses Photography • Serenity Makeup & Beauty
• Mackillop College • Share the Dignity
• Maureen Cooke • Sienna Grange Residents
• Mt Seaview Spring Water • Snap Printing
• Newman Senior Technical College • Soul Surfing
• North Haven Ladies Bowling Club • Stardust Circus
• Onmicare • StreetSmart Australia
• Oxley Trefoil Group • Tacking Point Lions Club
• Port Anglican Church Ministry • TAFE Online and TAFE Digital
• Port Macquarie Garden Club • Veducci Fashion with Sue
• Port Macquarie Ladies Golf Club • Wauchope High School
• Port Macquarie Lions Club • Wauchope Lady Veteran Golfers
• Port Macquarie Triathlon Club • Wauchope Patchwork Quilters
• Quota Club • Wendy Haynes, Author
• Rhi Rebellion • Woolworths Lake Cathie
Thank you to Hugo Bittar of HB Productions for capturing the excitement of the 2018 Coastal Walk Against
Domestic and Family Violence and bringing our client stories to life for the Fixed Address launch. We encourage
you to view these amazing videos on our website at libertyservices.org.au/about/community/videos
Thank you to Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan, for sharing our story in Federal Parliament, to Member for
Port Macquarie, Leslie Williams, for being a champion of our cause, and to Mayor Peta Pinson, for your ongoing
support of our service.
Sincere thanks to our local media outlets, including Port Macquarie News, for helping us shine a light on DFV in
our community.
17Events and Activities
We initiate and lead community events that increase awareness
of domestic violence and the services available and take part in
other events that contribute to a safer community.
The annual Coastal Walk Against Domestic and Family Violence in November 2018 saw more than
600 people walk together in white to take a stand against violence and show support for those who have
experienced it.
International Women’s Day in March 2019 brought For the first time, on 1 May this year, we hosted a local
300 people together to hear what workplaces can do commemoration for National Domestic Violence
to address DFV. Remembrance Day.
18As Chair of the Domestic Violence Committee, we We sit on the organising committees of other events
jointly presented Seeing Red, which saw workplaces including Reclaim the Night and Homelessness
wearing red to say no to violence. Week.
We have participated in numerous community events including the Neighbourhood Centre Family Fun
Day, NAIDOC Week and the Aboriginal Women’s Festival. During 2018-2019 we celebrated the Opening
of Liberty Cottage and won the local Community and Social Services Award.
19Improving Inclusion
Liberty has been working hard over the past year to improve our
capacity as an inclusive, culturally aware and safe organisation
by creating an environment of diversity, involvement, respect and
connection.
Cultural Competency
We are improving our cultural awareness and service to Aboriginal families, who make up around 52% of our
transitional housing clients and 26% of crisis accommodation clients.
Liberty conducted a self-assessment against seven standards from the Community Housing for Aboriginal
People Strategy (CHAP). This led to the organisation undertaking a range of activities in order to improve our
cultural competency.
We have signed and adopted the Redressing Aboriginal Homelessness Accord, which now sits proudly in
our workplaces. The Accord is an active guiding document that aims to close the gap by promoting cultural
inclusion, participation, connectivity and safety.
We have implemented a cultural awareness training program for our team, including Cultural Competency
Training delivered by Wingaru Butabuta in June.
We have built our Indigenous networks and expanded our cultural connections to identify better pathways for
clients, including the establishment of the Liberty-led Joining the Dots Aboriginal network.
Liberty now has two Aboriginal positions which have been specifically developed where Aboriginal identity,
cultural knowledge and connections are a genuine aspect of the role. We are revising the Intake and
Assessment procedure to better meet the needs of clients who wish to work with an Aboriginal DFV specialist.
We have also welcomed to the team an Aboriginal work placement University student.
The Liberty team were involved in this year’s NAIDOC Voice Treaty Truth celebrations in Wauchope and Port
Macquarie, and the Aboriginal Women’s Festival. Thank you to everyone who came along for coffee scrub,
bracelets, face painting and a yarn.
“Because I’m Aboriginal, it
was great that my support
worker was Aboriginal. We
could connect better and I
could relax and be myself.”
20People with Disability
Liberty has partnered with People with Disability Australia (PWDA), the peak body for people with disability, to
participate in the Building Access project which aims to increase the accessibility of DFV Services for women
and children with disability.
The PWDA project will help Liberty increase inclusivity, leading to more women with disability being aware of
and accessing specialist DFV services.
Under the partnership, Liberty will be supported to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan to address
the recommendations from a site audit conducted in August. Liberty has joined the PWDA Community of
Practice and staff will participate in team training later in the year. The project also includes a funding grant for
accessibility modifications.
Pride in Diversity
Pride in Diversity is a social inclusion initiative of ACON. It is an employer support program for all aspects of
LGBTQI workplace inclusion.
As a member of Pride in Diversity, Liberty will receive training, support and advice to ensure we are better
equipped to meet LGBTQI people’s particular needs. Liberty will map out a strategy to embed best practice
workplace diversity in order to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQI people by reducing exclusion,
invisibility, homophobia and stigma.
“It’s about letting women excel in life and to be heard and
respected. Liberty empowered me to be the best I can be.”
21Specialist Domestic Violence
Support Report
With 397 women and 413 children supported
across the Specialist Homelessness Service
and Integrated Domestic and Family Violence
Strategy funding streams, our service
continues to strive to meet the needs of our
community.
Taking the time to reflect on the stories of women and their children
means they are so much more than a statistic. They are the driving force of
Liberty. They teach us more with their experiences, their resilience and their
resistance of violence than they could ever comprehend. In an everchanging service system, they remain our
true north.
To our community, who believe so fiercely in what we do, assisting by any means possible through donation,
support on projects and inviting us into your spaces to speak about our service provision and gender
inequality. Your support means the world to both the staff and the individuals we support.
To each and every member of our team; thank you for your commitment to improve the safety and lives of
women and children. Your tenacity, advocacy, strength and reliability are valued daily. It is a brilliant experience
to work amongst a passionate, diverse and dedicated team.
To the individuals who trusted us to walk a part of their journeys; thank you for the privilege of walking
alongside you. You are the reason we continue to strive for a community safe from violence. You are heard,
believed and recognised for the strength and courage it takes to make a stand, and take steps toward change.
Jenna Bamborough-Lahey
Specialist Domestic Violence Manager
Assessment and Intake
Liberty ensures that women who access our service experience a seamless and warm entry in accessing
support, without the need to repeat their story, nor their goals.
This approach ensures equity in access to supports whilst still allowing the service to respond to crisis as a
priority. Women are met at a time, place and way in which suits them, with responses and services tailored to
their needs.
658 referrals were made to the service in 2018-19 representing 295 women and 364 accompanying children.
This reflects an increase in referrals of 28.5% from 2018-17. As awareness of domestic and family violence and
22its far-reaching implications on the health and safety of individuals grows within the community, so too does
the demand for services.
This resulted in 594 individuals; 280 women and 314 children engaging in supports through our Family and
Community Services Specialist Homelessness Service funding program areas of Galbaan House, Transitional
Housing and Outreach.
Referrals come from a diverse range of services and support agencies within the community. The largest
proportion, 48% of these referrals, were from women making direct contact with Liberty to access supports
and services.
We met the needs of 44 women and their accompanying children after-hours in 2018-2019 through the
provision of Domestic Violence Response Enhancement Funding (DVRE). It is through this funding that our
team respond to calls throughout the night, providing emergency accommodation, supporting women at the
police station or hospital and restoring dignity through the provision of basic essentials and comforts such as
food, clothing and care packs.
Liberty Cottage
From Liberty Cottage, our Outreach Centre, we operate a variety of programs such as the Outreach Program,
Community Partnerships Against Domestic and Family Violence and the Advocacy and Prevention Programs.
Women and children of all stories of life, cultural backgrounds, sexuality and gender diversity who have
experienced domestic and family violence in their relationships or homelessness are warmly welcomed
by the team. Women and children are supported in their unique journeys toward healing, empowerment
and regaining physical and emotional safety and wellbeing. The voices and stories of women and children
are upheld, validated and believed. The choices and right to self-determination of women and children are
respected and treated with dignity.
Although Liberty Cottage can become busy at times, it is often described as a safe haven to pop in and have a
talk over a cup of coffee. The Liberty Cottage team is also flexible in safely meeting women in the community.
Outreach
The Outreach Team provide support to women and their children to plan for safety and wellbeing through
advocacy, support and safety planning. Underpinning the Outreach Program is ensuring women feel heard,
respected and are offered the opportunity to meet their goals.
The Outreach Team engage with women who may be homeless by assisting them to navigate the housing
system, at risk of homelessness to sustain a tenancy or to assist women make a plan to relocate safely and
23avoid homelessness. This makes the work of the Outreach Team incredibly diverse as they honour placing the
client at the centre of all decision making.
In 2018-19, our Outreach Team supported a total of 221 women and 209 children.
The service overall, encompassing all Specialist Homelessness Service program areas - Galbaan House,
Transitional Housing and Outreach provided case management and supports to a total of 280 women and 314
children.
Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse 6%
Indigenous
28%
Non-Indigenous
66%
Diversity
Community Partnerships Against Domestic and Family Violence
Community Partnerships is funded by the Integrated Domestic and Family Violence Strategy through Family
and Community Services. The program seeks to promote safety for families experiencing domestic and family
violence through a range of responses matched to client need and outcomes of risk assessment.
Safety is most commonly increased through referral, case coordination and comprehensive case management
services. Community Partnerships utilises multiple strategies to support women and increase their safety
including coordination of security audits and upgrades, homelessness prevention and prioritised access to
specific targeted professional support to address their needs.
Community Partnerships co-location and partnership with NSW Family and Community Services continues
to grow and strengthen in providing integrated responses to women and children who have experienced
violence and men who have used violence in their relationships.
In 2018-19, 117 women and 99 children were supported through referral, case management or case
coordination services.
12 Community Education sessions were provided reaching a further 137 participants, exploring the dynamics
of domestic violence, the underpinning cause of gender inequality and navigating the bystander space.
This year we were one of 16 organisations selected to participate in the Specialist Homelessness Service
Outcomes Based Contracting Pilot which aims to improve quality service provision based on client-centred
wellbeing outcomes such as health, community connection, education, employment and finance.
We developed the Liberty Wellness Program and secured StreetSmart grant funding to run programs (yoga,
literacy skills, financial education and technology) that improve social inclusion, build skills, increase education
and employment participation.
24Specialist Housing Report
Throughout 2018-19 Liberty has continued to
grow and develop towards innovative service
delivery to meet the changing support needs
of the women, children and men we work with.
I have had the pleasure of being part of the Management Team this year. I
am grateful for the wisdom and support of our CEO Kelly Lamb and for the
Management Team, Ulla and Jenna.
I am proud to share that Liberty was one of five selected services in NSW to
participate in Practice Exchange. This has proven to be a valuable six month
engagement with Dr Allan Wade that allowed our team members the opportunity to discuss, grow and
develop our lens from the perspective of honoring the dignity and resilience of the women we support.
It has been my pleasure to have trained new facilitators for both Dusk and Kids Club. Creating strength within
these important programs continues to be my passion.
Our community has continued to support us this year, assisting us to continue providing needed services and
valuable resources. We are very lucky and grateful to be surrounded by such a wonderful community.
Liberty Team, may the coming year be even better again than the last. May the passion that drives you every
day continue to burn brightly. Thank you.
Carla Davis
Specialist Housing Manager
Galbaan House
Galbaan House is a wonderfully warm, nurturing environment created for women and their children requiring
short term, crisis accommodation. The 5 bedroom, communal living layout includes beautifully renovated
kitchen and bathrooms, and well-appointed playroom just for fun. A great deal of effort and community
investment ensures the building reflects the level of care and comfort our residents deserve.
To ensure the quality of support available matches the environment, we are mindful to balance process with
relationship to support positive outcomes for all women and children accommodated. Galbaan House staff
strive to ensure every woman walking through the door is given the opportunity to explore her hopes and
dreams for herself and her family, connecting with the person behind the trauma that brought her here, rather
than being defined primarily by her current situation.
One of the greatest rewards experienced by the Team is reminding women and children of their own worth
and working in partnership to achieve their unique goals.
25Client Demographic
44 women and 73 children were accommodated at Galbaan House this year. The overwhelming reason for
single women and women with children securing accommodation at Galbaan House was domestic and family
violence, with 41 women (93%) seeking refuge from the violence and abuse they experienced. Homelessness
caused by other factors accounted for 3 women (7%). This reflects widely accepted research findings citing
domestic violence as the leading cause of women’s homelessness in Australia.
Housing Outcomes
With short term crisis accommodation consisting of 8 week stays, the following housing outcomes show
how intensive support and working in partnership with social housing providers and other services produces
options for women to resolve homelessness. Many of the women we work with face significant hurdles to
access the private rental market, with TICA database listings and security needs not matching affordability.
Other SHS 3%
Secured Transitional
Accommodated with Housing 21%
Family/Friends 8%
Returned Home 10%
Secured Social Housing
8%
Relocated Out Of Area
3%
Secured Private Rental
47%
Outcomes
Services for Children and Young People
The impacts of trauma on children and young people living with domestic violence and homelessness are
acknowledged and recognised at Galbaan House. Children need to feel supported in order to explore their
feelings, family dynamics and structure, as well as navigating residing in a communal living environment.
In order to address the complex and varied behavioural issues that come with experiencing trauma, staff assist
families to find the most appropriate positive parenting styles that suit their family. Families are encouraged
and resourced to take these strategies into their homes beyond their stay in Galbaan House. We endeavour to
assist families to connect to their community and build in meaningful support services to address isolation and
improve future outcomes once they have established their new residence.
The playroom is open for daily use and has a variety of activities for children of all ages to access and further
develop their fine motor, cognitive, creative, social/emotional and gross motor skills. From imaginative play for
younger children in the cubby house, home corner, dress ups, craft supplies to the basketball hoop, Playstation,
Wii, Wifi and Netflix for older children and young people.
Children and young people are encouraged to take ownership of the space and are responsible for cleaning up
after themselves and looking after the equipment. When children are encouraged to take ownership, they in
turn have a sense of belonging which offers them not only a sense of self, but a place to feel safe, secure and
supported.
26Transitional Housing
Transitional Housing provides a bridge from domestic and family violence and homelessness to a safe and
stable living environment. It offers medium term accommodation with the goal of securing self-sufficient
permanent accommodation at the end of the tenancy. Many clients are unable to secure immediate long-term
accommodation for a multitude of reasons such as low income, debt, no rental history or discrimination in the
rental market, and a long wait for social housing properties.
Effective case management to support the positive growth of families is vital to the success of Transitional
Housing. Case management offers the client the opportunity to successfully move forward with as much
or as little support as they require. They are offered advocacy and emotional support to help achieve self-
sufficiency, and assistance to create a sustainable network of support. Support by caseworkers is provided to
reach employment or educational goals, achieving comfort in living independently, financial assistance and
budgeting, or liaising with real estate firms to find housing solutions.
In 2018-19 Liberty maintained our housing partnerships with providers Community Housing Ltd, Mission
Australia Housing, and Centacare Housing.
Client Demographic
We supported 24 women and 44 accompanying children in Transitional Housing properties this year. 96% of
the women accommodated in Transitional Housing were residing there due to experiences of domestic and
family violence.
Dusk Domestic Violence Support Group
Our Domestic Violence Support Program for women, Dusk, has continued to develop and grow this year. We
strive to ensure content remains relevant, with a rich evidence base that responds to what women tell us they
are looking to gain from the experience.
Some women attend to explore feelings of confusion and ‘walking on eggshells’, uncertain if emotional and
psychological abuse is domestic violence. It is the powerful voices of women who have experienced physical
and sexual violence in relationships that validates the seriousness of emotional abuse with most describing it
as the worst form of all.
Feedback from the 21 women who participated this year, demonstrates Dusk continues to provide high
satisfaction with group content and delivery. The single most frequently reported benefit of attending the
group is reduced isolation, “I’m not alone”. Women report the shared laughter and the kind of ‘knowing’ made
possible through shared experience an extremely unique and strengthening experience.
27Kids Club
The Kids Club program seeks to draw on Narrative Therapy practices to notice and value each child’s unique
ways of using skills and knowledge to respond to problems in their lives. These strong-self stories are
celebrated in diverse ways according to the preferences of the children.
Kids Club had 11 children participate this year. Kids Club provides an opportunity to spend this special time
with other children in a safe and fun environment to share their thoughts and experiences of resilience,
empowering and encouraging each other to develop their individual strengths.
Feedback from children who participated and from their parents speaks to the benefits of young people
attending the group having more confidence in their daily lives.
“All the support I got
was actually based on my
decisions. I’ve kicked goals
and moved mountains.”
28Advocacy and Prevention Message
Liberty’s vision is to play a role in creating a
safe community and to eliminate domestic
and family violence. We are committed to
influencing change, so that women and
children can live a life free from hurt and harm.
Liberty works to hold men accountable and take responsibility for causing
hurt and harm. We also work with our community to challenge values, beliefs
and myths that drive gender inequality, which predominantly leads to hurt
and harm.
I wholeheartedly thank the Advocacy and Prevention team for holding these stories and bringing them to light
to drive their passion in creating a respectful and safer community for us all.
Ulla Inki Gilabert
Advocacy and Prevention Manager
Engage2Change
Engage2Change is a registered Men’s Behaviour Change program that assists men who have used violence
and abuse towards family members and who want to improve the way they behave in their relationship.
The 12 week program is for men who are committed and ready to work towards non-violence and self-
responsibility in a respectful and confidential group setting.
Engage2Change holds men accountable to their ex/partners, children and families for their chosen destructive
behaviours. We invite men into a space to look at themselves as partners, fathers and male figures of the
community to deeply reflect on the impacts of those chosen behaviours on their loved ones and people who
they connect with.
Men are invited to explore the values of respect and empathy and commit to working towards non-violent
behaviour. In this journey of change we say, “where there is no shame, there is no honour”.
Cultural identity of the 29 men who
completed Engage2Change
CALD 10% Non-Indigenous
69% “I’ve become a much
Indigenous
21%
better person. I’m a lot
more respectful than
what I used to be.”
29Referral Source
63 Referrals in Total
3%
2%
3%
2% 2%
3%
1%
41%
32%
11%
Self-referral Child and Family Services Men’s Referral Service
FaCS Drug and Alcohol Community Housing Limited
Corrective Services Mental Health
Psychologist Legal Aid
Fixed Address
A highlight of the year was the launch of the innovative Fixed Address program. We were very pleased to have
so many of our service partners and community stakeholders attend our successful launch to hear more about
Fixed Address.
Fixed Address is a Men’s Behaviour Change intervention program that upholds women and children’s rights to
live free from violence. The program keeps men in view by linking them with the right interventions, including
a transitional housing option.
In this way, women and children may remain in the home. Through Liberty’s Women and Children’s Advocacy
supports, stories and experiences of these women and children are validated, listened to and made visible.
30Women and Children’s Advocacy
The core principle of Men’s Behaviour Change Programs is that women and children’s safety must be given the
highest priority. Our Women and Children’s Advocate plays a very important role in contacting and engaging
with the women and children whose partners or fathers are participants in the Engage2Change groupwork
and Fixed Address program.
Women and Children Cultural identity of the 23
Advocacy Support women supported through the
Women and Children’s Advocate
23 4
56 19
Children Women Non-Indigenous Indigenous
Community Education and Awareness
Liberty believes that “everyone has an influence”. In our Community Education and Awareness space we
are driven to eliminate hurt and harm by reaching out to the local community, schools, organisations and
businesses to challenge the unhealthy social norms and attitudes boys and girls have grown up with and
continue into adulthood.
Liberty delivers the Bystander Program to schools, universities, businesses and community organisations. The
education and intervention program teaches community members how to recognise abuse and have the
courage and confidence to speak out and offer help. We have delivered Bystander Education sessions to a
total of 31 participants, including organisations such as TAFE, Headspace, ETC, Charles Sturt University and Port
Macquarie-Hastings Council.
In responding to the specific needs or our community, we have also delivered tailored Domestic and Family
Violence Education Sessions to 139 participants across a range of sectors including educational institutions,
small businesses, and community service providers. Participants have included the Neighbourhood Centre,
Focus Magazine, Elders Real Estate, SeaChange Accountants and many more.
Our primary prevention programs talk about gender equality and respect and encourage individuals and
organisations to take a leadership role in saying yes to a safe community for all.
31Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services
PO Box 431
Port Macquarie NSW 2444
P: 02 6583 2155
E: info@libertyservices.org.au
W: libertyservices.org.au
@libertyservices.org.au
Contribute to Liberty
We are grateful for our generous and supportive community.
If you would like to donate to Liberty, please call us first on 6583 2155 so we can let you know how you
can best support our families. Financial donations are always gratefully received.
32Find out more at libertyservices.org.auYou can also read
