Berry Street Web Docs Annual Report 2006 | Page 10

berry street victoria annual report 2006 page 11

we
never
stop helping
1,940 women used our intake service to access information on how to keep themselves and
their children safe
Our Victim’s Assistance Program helped 83 women and children referred by the new Family Violence
Court at Heidelberg
Emergency Relief and Financial Counselling advice was provided to 836 people
Our skilled counsellors helped 1,053 children, young peoples and their families
274 children used our Children’s Contact Centre for access

We believe that, wherever possible, children should live with their
families, enjoy school and be connected with their community.
Sadly, for many of the children with whom we work, this is not
possible – because family violence, child abuse and neglect,
mental health issues or substance abuse means that parents
cannot provide a safe and secure home for their children.

violence. In addition to an information and referral service, crisis
housing and children’s program, women will also be able to
receive support after hours, intensive case management, some
assistance with rent and specialised counselling.

In all our services, we try and connect children and young people
to family members who can give them support and a sense of
their roots.

We are very excited about this development and especially
our increased capacity to engage women from culturally and
linguistically diverse and Aboriginal communities.

In addition, we run a number of specific programs which help
parents deal with conflict in their family, learn to be better parents
and manage their children’s access.

Keeping children connected

A new approach to Family Violence
BSV has benefited from the Victorian Government’s commitment to
respond more effectively to family violence. Following an exhaustive
tender process, BSV leads a new partnership with Anglicare,
Elizabeth Hoffman House and Women’s Health in the North,
to provide an expanded and more integrated response to family

We all know how important it is for children to retain positive
contact with parents who have separated or divorced. Sadly,
there are too many situations where there is violence or the
parents’ relationship is so damaged that children need a safe
place to have contact with their non-custodial parent.
Our Children’s Contact Service in Watsonia provides a safe place
where parents can collect their children, as well as supervised
access where it is not safe for a child to be alone with their parent.

families
Rose’s Story
Rose’s parents separated when her mother, Erma, was
pregnant. Her father, Nestor, wanted to be involved with Rose,
but major cultural and religious differences had resulted in a
complete breakdown in communication between Nestor and
Erma and her family.

but with the support and encouragement of our skilled staff,
she started to enjoy their time together. Although we tried
to include Rose’s grandmother, her constant criticism of
Nestor was distressing to Rose and we had to ask her not
to attend.

After an application by Nestor, the Court ordered fortnightly
access at our Contact Centre in Watsonia.

After several months of supervised access and changeovers,
Erma could see how important Nestor was to Rose. They finally
agreed on a plan which they could manage themselves – a very
successful outcome.

Our goal was to make access as positive as possible for Rose,
who was just 4. Initially, Rose was quite hesitant with Nestor,