Emerge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Crisis prevention centre

Emerge

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 1300 536 330

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• Medical and health
• Medical centre
• Non-profit organisation
• Social service
• Crisis prevention centre

25.01.2022 We applaud this. Researchers from The University of Western Australia have been awarded national funding to investigate the long-term mental health of children exposed to domestic and family violence. https://www.uwa.edu.au//new-study-to-investigate-mental-he

25.01.2022 PARENTING SUPPORT KEEPS THE DOOR OPEN FOR SURVIVORS The word crisis in Chinese can be either an opportunity or a danger depending on one’s perception of the situation. For the staff and volunteers at Emerge, COVID-19 has been challenging but also an opportunity to work differently and learn new skills while retaining a trauma-informed approach to the work. http://emergesupport.org.au//parenting-support-keeps-the-/

24.01.2022 Here’s wishing for a sensory garden There’s one element missing at Emerge’s new refuge and that is a sensory garden, according to Executive Officer Paula Westhead. We need an outside place where mums can sit quietly, children play in nature, a place which is inviting and calming."... http://emergesupport.org.au//heres-wishing-for-a-sensory-/

23.01.2022 We are delighted to share the news that our Chair Nicole Batagol is running in the local government elections in Stonnington. Emerge supports more women candidates to ensure women are placed at the centre of local government policy and decision making. https://nickibatagol.com/

22.01.2022 This free online resource, titled Your Toolkit, outlines a roadmap for recovery to support women’s physical safety and long-term financial security.

22.01.2022 From the Executive Officer We are almost at the end of 2020. Thank goodness, I can hear you say. Here at Emerge we can but agree. The year has been a roller coaster ride. The start of the year was filled with promise our new refuge opening, research on our Safe Nest project underway, new services revving up. Within three months, many of our plans were postponed due to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, we opened the refuge in May and it has been full ever sin...ce. We switched from working in the office to working virtually; our outreach programs continued but not as they were before. Our arts therapy program went on line. We remained open because we are an essential service. Which we are, even more so during a pandemic. However, as the world retreated inside homes due to the lockdown measures introduced to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, reports have showed an alarming increase in the already existing pandemic of violence against women. See more

21.01.2022 GETTING ACTIVE BY REIMAGINING HEALTH Getting the chance to exercise with your mum is not necessarily what every young child wants but for Lilly*, it is the best news ever. She is one of the children living at Emerge’s refuge and although she goes to school and plays in the schoolyard every day, she has not really had the opportunity to have fun exercising with her mum for a long time.... Before her mum escaped her violent partner, Lilly was too scared to run, launch, or play outside. Her dad shouted at her or told her off. Lilly spent much of her time after school in her bedroom hiding from her dad. https://emergesupport.org.au//getting-active-by-reimagini/

21.01.2022 SPREAD SOME FESTIVE CHEER - MESSAGE FROM PAULA Could you bring hope and laughter back into families’ lives this festive season? I need your help to lighten everyone’s lives and put the dark days of the pandemic and family violence behind them. Will you help me and other Emerge supporters enable women and children have hope and a laughter in their lives at this festive time time?... We want to provide every mum with practical donations of vouchers and every child with new toys so that mums can choose what they want to buy on the special day. https://emergesupport.org.au//e/spread-some-festive-cheer/

21.01.2022 LIFE TURNED AROUND THANKS TO HELP FROM EMERGE After three years of living with Emerge, Mi* and her family’s lives have been turned around for the better. She has a new Office of Housing home and permanent residency in Australia. Her life is on the up. It has not always been like this.... She came to Australia from Vietnam on a student visa, fell in love and married. Her partner turned violent soon after the marriage, and she fled with her family. Without permanent residency status at the time, her vulnerability was heightened as she had no access to money to fund everyday costs and no right to housing. As if this was not enough, Mi found herself under constant threat of being constantly searched for by her ex-partner. https://emergesupport.org.au//life-turned-around-thanks-t/

19.01.2022 REFUGE THE SAFEST HOME THAT TEAH* HAS EVER HAD When it comes to feeling safe, there is no better place than a bath filled with bubbles, according to Teah. She and her young daughter have enjoyed many a bubble bath since they arrived at Emerge’s 24/7 refuge in June this year.... Bath is a place to play, a place to chill, a place to close eyes and dream of a better future.

18.01.2022 SEVERITY OF VIOLENCE IS ESCALATING SAYS EMERGE A disturbing pattern that has been observed since late 2020 is the radical change in the severity of violence that women coming into Emerge’s refuge have experienced. According to Jessica, Manager Integrated Family Services, several women have escaped violence perpetrated by highly dangerous men who are now in remand.... There has been a trend from men being on Invention Orders to being in remand because of fears that they will breach bail and not comply with an IVO. An intervention order is usually seen as a protection enough for the women we support, but lately we have this escalation in violence leading to the perpetrators being taken away by the police, she said. https://emergesupport.org.au//severity-of-violence-is-esc/

17.01.2022 LIFE IS TRANSFORMATIONAL IN THE EMERGE REFUGE In just four months since Emerge’s 24/7 refuge opened five women and 12 children have had their lives begin to turn around. It has been a wonderful few months despite the lockdown because the refuge is so inviting and the space is fantastic, Jess, Manager of Emerge’s Integrated Family Services, said.... http://emergesupport.org.au//life-is-transformational-in-/

17.01.2022 FROM THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER It is finally Spring. There are signs of new life: bulbs emerging through the winter soil, birds nesting and trees waking up. It has been a very difficult winter for us all locked up in our homes as we endeavour to beat the pandemic. As I write this, I am relieved that the number of active and mystery cases are reducing. I, like many of you, are looking forward to hearing what the next steps are after these current restrictions. There have been tim...es when there seemed to be no end in sight, and we are all longing to see each other smile and spend time together. https://emergesupport.org.au/ne/from-the-executive-manager/

16.01.2022 We welcome this announcement, and Assistant Commissioner Lauren Callaway's vow to fight domestic abuse committed by police employees and to remove barriers to women in the force.

16.01.2022 PANDEMIC HIGHLIGHTS GAPS IN THE FAMILY VIOLENCE SECTOR In its submission to the Family Violence Reform Implementation Monitor, Emerge has highlighted many gaps and emerging trends that have been exposed during the Covid-19 pandemic. http://emergesupport.org.au//pandemic-highlights-gaps-in-/

16.01.2022 Toys needed please! We desperately need NEW toys to give to children arriving in refuge and for their birthdays. If you can help, please email [email protected]

16.01.2022 We have registered for Walk Against Family Violence. And we would love it if you would join in by registering your own walk. If you are home you can still join our team and walk with a friend or family. Or do something totally different and share to our page. This is how to register with Emerge, please follow the link.

15.01.2022 Without increases in social housing and with even less resources for homelessness services, many families will become stuck in homelessness for a long time...and for women and children that is often associated with escaping family violence.

14.01.2022 SCHOOLING IS ON THE SIDELINE FOR YOUNG TOM* Tom loves school. He wants to learn, be with other children his own age, play on the monkey bars, and visit the school library. He also wants to stay in the same school for longer than six months. For the past year, Tom has changed schools three times, and he is only seven-years-old.... He is living proof of the impact that family violence on the lives of young children.

13.01.2022 An inquiry into family violence has heard of the insidious and pervasive nature of the problem in Australia, in an opening statement from the peak national body representing the legal profession. The Law Council has told a parliamentary inquiry into the issue the COVID-19 pandemic has served to heighten and magnify the prevalence of family violence. President Pauline Wright said the family courts were not adequately resourced to deal properly with violence and its effects, in... her written submission to government. https://www.canberratimes.com.au//covid-creates-perfect-s/

12.01.2022 JULIA MASTERS THE ART OF THERAPY There is no typical day for Julia, who has recently joined Emerge as a therapeutic team leader. Every day is different, bringing its own set of activities, challenges and inspiration.

11.01.2022 Staying in touch despite the lockdown was Emerge’s mantra last year. This was particularly the case with its outreach program which has not been able to work directly with as many women and children as usual yet still found different ways to connect.

10.01.2022 Women have missed out in the Federal Budget, and particularly women who have fled family violence and in need of social housing. Paula Westhead, Executive Officer of Emerge, is one of many women leaders who has made the point that women aged 55 and over are experiencing homelessness and that family violence, which disproportionally affects women, has increased significantly during the pandemic. As has now been calculated, just 0.038 per cent of the 2020 Federal Budget was focused on women who have borne the brunt of the adverse financial and social implications of COVID-19, Paula said.

10.01.2022 It is crucial to listen.

10.01.2022 WALKING TO END FAMILY VIOLENCE Glam up in orange, choose your walking buddies and join Walk Against Family Violence on Wednesday 25 November. Emerge is one of the organisers involved in this different annual event, and as Refuge Team Leader Jacqui says, the pandemic won’t stop anyone walking for the cause.... She and other Emerge staff and volunteers will be doing their bit to raise awareness of family violence in the community by taking part in walks from home event. If you are home you can still join our team and walk with a friend or family. Or do something totally different and share to our page. This is how to register with Emerge, please follow the link.

09.01.2022 Our team turned up in orange masks to make a statement and walk against family violence today. We were also joined by the VicPolice. It’s International Day to End Violence against Women today. #WAFV2020 #WhyWeWalk

08.01.2022 Emerge is one of 15 organisations especially chosen by StreetSmart to receive funding to be spent on the mental and physical wellbeing of staff. The SmartCare program has deliberately focused on frontline essential works who have worked relentlessly to keep vulnerable people safe. https://emergesupport.org.au//emerge-stories/smart-fundin/

08.01.2022 ART THERAPY HELPING A CHILD HEAL Over the past few months and throughout the stringent pandemic restrictions and lockdown, Emerge therapist Jane has been meeting a young boy every week for arts therapy. http://emergesupport.org.au//art-therapy-helping-a-child-/

08.01.2022 It is important to recognise the serious impact of non-physical forms of domestic violence...but are we ready to criminalise coercive control?

07.01.2022 THE GENTLE TOUCH OF VOLUNTEERING DURING LOCKDOWN Mary* sends a text. She has had a rough day and needs to talk to someone she trusts. She knows exactly who to turn to: Helen, one of the volunteers at Emerge, who has been supporting her over the past two years and continues to do so now.... After fleeing a violent partner, Mary is so isolated now that the only contact she has other than services is Helen. Each time she sends a text, she hopes Helen will respond and making time in her week to visit. https://emergesupport.org.au//the-gentle-touch-of-volunte/

07.01.2022 VOLUNTEERS, BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT A MAJOR REASON FOR EMERGE’S SUCCESS IN 2020 Over the past year Emerge has had 45 volunteers working across the organisation, clocking up over 1,124 hours. They include 12 volunteers working with families in a variety of ways including tutoring, being language assistants; working in courts looking after children while their mothers finalise legal issues; packing Christmas hampers, carrying out craft work with mothers and children, and helping move into the refuge and Emerge’s new office. https://emergesupport.org.au//volunteers-business-and-com/

05.01.2022 WHEN YOU NEED SECURITY, CALL BAYDEN It goes without saying that security is a vital component in keeping women and children safe. Which is why Emerge has always called on Global Zone, an IT-based company that designs and installs security, alarm systems and access control, to help them out.... The 30-year old company is all about providing solutions, and for director Bayden Farmer, working with Emerge is about providing with the safest solutions available. https://emergesupport.org.au//when-you-need-security-call/

05.01.2022 We are starting to prepare our festive hampers for the families. The donations on our wish list are: New children’s books Art materials Vouchers Coles/Myer... Xmas Present Bags Xmas cakes/chocolates/biscuits Get in touch with the office if you want to drop items off please. https://emergesupport.org.au/support-our-work/donations/

04.01.2022 SPREADING WINGS AND LEARNING CONFIDENCE IN A SAFE NEST Six excited children and their mums met each other for the first time in early November at Emerge’s offices as part of the Safe Nest research program.

02.01.2022 A report by Monash University’s Gender and Family Violence Prevention Centre released on Tuesday, based on a survey of more than 100 Victorian workers, found almost 70 per cent were experiencing burnout and increased stress due to the demands on the sector.

01.01.2022 ASHA’S FRESH START IN THE COUNTRY Asha is living her own version of Escape to the Country, thanks to the Victorian Government’s flexible support package program. She is now with her two sons in Gippsland in Office of Housing accommodation following a stay in Emerge’s new 24/7 refuge. She arrived at the refuge during lockdown in May after fleeing a violent partner.... http://emergesupport.org.au//ashas-fresh-start-in-the-cou/

01.01.2022 CHILDREN MAKE THEIR MARK WITH MATLDA Matlda is not the usual resident you would find in a refuge. However, she is making a difference among the children taking part in the Make Your Mark program at Emerge.... Matlda is a social robot who can engage in dialogue, read and recite text, dance and play music. She can be programmed to tune into individual children, motivating them to better engage with others and help to modify their behaviour. Make Your Mark is a creative arts therapy program that provides a safe space for children, aged between five and seven, who have experienced family violence or a family breakdown. https://emergesupport.org.au//children-make-their-mark-wi/

01.01.2022 This is worth a read. Currently the Victorian Law Reform Commission is reviewing the state's protocols around stalking. If a man is found guilty and imprisoned for serious stalking and has a history of breaching intervention orders isn’t a tracking anklet for a predetermined period upon his release the *first* thing that should be required by law across the entire country? What else should be mandatory?