By CASEY NEILL
WELLSPRINGS for Women has been a safe place for women in need since it opened its doors in Dandenong 20 years ago.
Manager Veronica Hassett said it started as a drop-in centre with a craft group to help isolated women find social connection and education.
“They used to come in and gather and tell their stories,” she said.
“It’s just a place where they can feel safe. It’s a home away from home. You walk around here and you feel it.”
The Langhorne Street centre offers outreach services, a mentor program, recreational classes and education to women from the cities of Greater Dandenong and Casey.
Ms Hassett said many women who turned to Wellsprings had suffered family violence.
“We’re not a counselling service,” she said.
“When people do come in we have one-on-one support.
“We listen to their story and once we’ve heard their story we guide them into the right direction and then we will refer them on for further support.”
She said volunteers supported women through the Wellsprings Home Visitation Program.
“As they build that rapport and relationship, it’s like a buddy system,” she said.
“They’ll take them to court and just be there for them to debrief and talk, but we’re not there to guide them – they’ve got their counsellors there to do that.
“We’re like a friendly visit to support them on that journey.”
Ms Hassett said women in abusive relationships often found it difficult to confide in friends or family.
“Sometimes with people who are close to you, you wear a different mask,” she said.
“For someone who is not that connected with you, you know they’re there to just guide you through this journey by just simply listening to your story.”
She said rarely did women walk through the door and immediately ask for family violence support.
“Women have great respect for their relationship no matter how hard that relationship is,” she said.
“They’re not going to open up straight away, but as you journey with them and talk to them they start trusting you and they start telling you.
“Then it’s our role to build their confidence and empower them to live their life to the fullest.
“How we do that is we give them the time.”
Ms Hassett said it could take some women a long time to open up.
“It takes them years and years to break that cycle, but you’ve got to build their confidence first,” she said.
“If we get any of those emergency cases we refer them. We put her in touch with a case worker or police.”
Ms Hassett said the White Ribbon movement meant prevention and helped restore some women’s faith in men.
“White Ribbon was started by males which is a wonderful thing,” she said.
Presentation Sister Ann Halpin founded Wellsprings for Women.
She was a City of Greater Dandenong Living Treasure and passed away in 2009 following a seven-month battle with a brain tumour.
Halpin Way in central Dandenong now bears her name. Kildare Ministries now governs the organisation.
For help or support regarding family violence call the 24-hour Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service Victoria (WDVCS) on 1800 015 188 or visit www.asksomeone.org.au.
Women should phone triple zero if they are in immediate danger.
