CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | JULY 2023
@catherinehouseadl @catherinehouseadl Catherine House Inc
Catherine House update
The past few years have been particularly challenging with the impacts of COVID-19, a significant loss of funding and the continued increase in the need for our services. We are humbled and so very grateful for the offers of support we receive from our Catherine House community. Support from donors, philanthropic foundations, government, corporate and in-kind supporters, fundraisers, volunteers and ambassadors does not go unnoticed. The collective hundreds of volunteered hours, the boot- loads of donations, the organisation and attendance of events, the impassioned advocacy of your voices, and the financial contributions – no matter the amount – it all truly makes a difference. The first six months of the year have been incredibly busy. We have worked with 271 women to end their homelessness, provided more than 22,000 nutritious meals, engaged with 38 women through our Education and Employment Pathway Program, and provided 31 Education Grants to assist with further learning and personal development. When you choose to support Catherine House, this is the difference you make. It is your offering of support and time that shows us, and the women we support, that they are thought of, cared for, valued and worthy. For many women, this is the first time they have felt this in their lives. Over the remainder of the year, we will have many opportunities for you to get involved, and we ask you to please think about supporting us. I hope you enjoy reading this newsletter with a sense of pride and on behalf of our staff, volunteers and clients – thank you.
I am thrilled to be able to write to you in our very special anniversary year. As you may be aware, this year Catherine House is celebrating 35 years of supporting women experiencing homelessness. During this time, we have worked with thousands of women through what is often the most challenging times of their lives. In 1987, the Sisters of Mercy partnered with the South Australian Housing Authority and the City of Adelaide to purpose-build Catherine House. They were true pioneers of their time – their tenacity and determination still inspire us to empower women every day. A year later, Catherine House began with humble beginnings and tireless work through the Sisters. Sister Anne Gregory paved the way for an organisation that existed to provide a safe place for women. A supportive environment that created opportunity and hope. When we opened our doors in 1988, we were the first women’s only homelessness service in South Australia, and today, in 2023, we are still the only service providing this support. Our accommodation and support services have always been in demand. However, with the current lack of affordable housing, rental crisis (the current rental availability is at 0.06%) and cost of living pressures, demand for support is at an all-time high. We know there are many factors contributing to the increase of people experiencing homelessness, particularly women. As an organisation, we continue to work with government and our sector colleagues to advocate for further support. We take great comfort in knowing that we have an incredible community of supporters that enable us to work with women through our holistic and recovery-based model of care. This proven model has changed the lives of so many women and importantly enabled them to end their homelessness – for good.
JAYLEE COOPER Manager of philanthropy & engagement, Catherine House
PAGE 02 | CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
my incredible five year journey Robyn's story This time five years ago, I never thought I’d be starting this journey of success. I never thought I'd become homeless and end up at Catherine House. In the first three years, I never thought of studying or even working. But then I started with Sharon doing the Live Your Best Life course and then the My Time, My Life, My Future course, which gave me a new lease on life. After completing these courses, I wanted to further my career by attending a TAFE course. I went on to complete a Certificate II in Women's Education. What I learnt from this course broadened my horizons, and I wanted to do something other than cleaning and volunteering, which I had been doing for five years. I did have some setbacks, but I pushed through, and late last year, I decided to start doing a Certificate III in Community Services. As you can see in this picture, I've completed that journey. This year I've started a Certificate IV in Youth Work, which I'm loving. By the end of the year, I will almost have completed that certificate as well. I'm starting my work placement in the youth sector, hopefully doing mentoring and residential care.
Next year, I have a big ambition to start my Diploma in Case Management, but it’s only in the thought stage. With the journey I've had, I never thought I'd be where I am now. Without the support of Catherine House, especially Sharon and Deirdre, I'd never be studying, let alone working or driving a car - I'm almost at the final stages of getting my P Plates.
Onwards and upwards from here and watch out, I could become a worker at Catherine House yet.
it just takes one
I've walked the walk and fought the storms and pain was my best friend, confusion, mind games and no self-worth is what brought me to the end The life I lived and thought I knew had left me on my knees, Cause pouring love into the dark is something no one sees I feel no shame for believing good exists within us all but not all hearts are quite as pure and that is where we fall To make a stand and share your scars as open as they feel, will lead you out the path of pain into time that only heals If I can now enlist my heart to use this pain for good I'll hold the hand of all that fear feeling lost and misunderstood As it JUST TAKES ONE to know your hurt believing in your dreams, that will walk the walk when life gets hard and nothing is as it seems.
poem by sandra
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 03
CATHERINE HOUSE WOMEN'S CENTRE
COMMUNITY GARDEN TRANSFORMATION
I’ve had more than a few women share stories of being subjected to financial control and abuse. they are keen to learn how to manage their finances independently. It’s exciting to be able to offer this opportunity to learn simple money tools to get control back and plan for financial freedom. - tam, women's centre coordinator This July, the Women’s Centre is hosting a series of financial literacy workshops, facilitated by Good Shepherd, called My Money Basics. This three-session program is designed to teach women how to take control of their finances and develop new skills to gain financial independence. my money basics
Earlier this year we were delighted to have the support of the Knights of Malta who, together with their volunteers, created a community garden at Catherine House. They transformed an unutilised concrete space into an idyllic sanctuary , allowing a safe, relaxing space for women to garden, or just relax in. This space also has planters that provide veggies and herbs for the three Catherine House kitchens.
The Women’s Centre recently began a new initiative, Creative Care Consults. The women attending the centre are invited to share their creative ideas and interests and are then provided with a creative care pack - a tailored package of art and craft materials to bring their dreams to life. This project is made possible with the generous help from our supporters at MumKIND - thank you. Creative Care Consults
before
having a project to work on over the weekend and in the evenings plays a big part in keeping clients occupied and engaged.
Fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs growing in the newly built Community Garden.
after
garden gems
The Women’s Centre Community Garden has a new decoration project called Garden Gems. The Women’s Centre community has embraced making signage to identify the plants and educate themselves on their medicinal and culinary uses. The women have been beading butterflies and dragonflies to symbolise new life, renewal and hope and add some sparkle to the garden through the colder months.
PAGE 04 | CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
education & employment
employment opportunities
Achieving employment is a vital step towards ending a woman's homelessness for good. We have recently had a number of Catherine House clients undertake casual, part-time and permanent full-time employment via our supported employment with the following organisations:
live your best life & plan for your future This ten-week course, supported by the City of Adelaide, fundraising and donations, is offered to women to help develop practical and personal skills, enabling them to achieve their education and employment goals. Participants of this Adult Community Education (ACE) course learn strategies in career planning, communication and problem solving, as well as developing their confidence and self-belief through exploring their skills, attributes and abilities, identifying barriers and strengths.
John Holland Group Bowerbird Markets
Calvary Care The Big Issue Adelaide Fringe festival McConnell Dowell If you're interested in offering employment support, please get in touch with Deirdre Flynn, Manager of Client Services, for more information. DeirdreF@catherinehouse.org.au
These practices are crucial to a woman’s belief that she has potential and that she can progress into further education or employment.
- Sharon, Education & Employment Officer
art group Clients engaging in our ACE Art Group are able to unwind, explore, create and build social connections through engaging with visual arts. They learn new skills in various art mediums and techniques and become empowered through the process of creating or by sharing their art with the broader community. Clients attending Art Group build confidence through art and learn communication skills, including talking to people about their art.
FROM JANUARY - JUNE 2023
Education Grants were provided to clients, including items such as WIFI devices, driving lessons, software and more. 31 38 clients engaged with the Education & Employment Officer. 295 sessions of Community Education programs attended. 14 women attended, enrolled or registered for UniSA, TAFE, Workzone Traffic Management, White Card, First Aid or WEA courses.
Staying Safe for Women
Knowing how to protect myself from a perpetrator is a life skill I can share and show to my children and all women I meet and know. Safety is crucial for a healthy life. Catherine House also offers fortnightly courses aimed at developing skills to improve safety. This program provides women with the opportunity to learn about rights and choices, how to set safe personal boundaries and confident communication styles. Clients practice saying "no" instead of yes in scenarios where they don't want to say yes. They understand their right to safety and consent.
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 05
Cattherine House On May 20th, we celebrated Catherine House's 35th Anniversary, holding our Gala Dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre, with 530 guests in attendance. This was the largest fundraising event Catherine House has held in its proud 35-year history and a wonderful opportunity to honour the journey of so many women who have so bravely walked through our doors throughout that time. We were honoured to hear from two remarkable guest speakers, the Honourable Peter Malinauskas MP, Premier of South Australia, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, who spoke about the current climate of homelessness in South Australia and the work necessary to improve lives for those experiencing this devastating reality each day.
Our Gala Dinner event aimed to raise much-needed funds for our Crisis Accommodation Service , a program that has been providing support to South Australian women for the past 35 years.
The evening concluded with guests dancing the night away, as previous Catherine House client and award-winning DJ Tania Smith of Choonz and Moovs had everyone on the dancefloor for a magical ending to the night. As a final sweet note, guests took home a Kytons Lamington, kindly donated by Sharon and Darren of Kytons Bakery. Guests enjoyed watching the live auction by Auctioneer Bronte Manuel of Toop and Toop. Many generously participated, resulting an astounding $130,000 raised. A truly jaw-dropping moment occurred when 20 supporters - individuals and businesses - stood up and pledged to donate $5,000 to support the kitchen in our Crisis Accommodation Service - a collective $100,000. It was an incredible symbol of our community standing up for women. The room was profoundly silent when our host, Journalist and Author Laine Anderson, interviewed Catherine House client, Sonia. Sonia bravely shared her story with the room, providing the audience with an intimate understanding of the effects of domestic and family violence and homelessness on her life. We thank Sonia for having the courage to share her story.
THE EVENING WAS HOSTED BY THE WONDERFUL LAINE ANDERSON, AND THE THRILLING LIVE AUCTION WAS CONDUCTED BY BRONTE MANUEL.
PAGE 06 | CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
WE COULDN'T DO THIS WITHOUT YOU! Gala Dinner Countless generous individuals and businesses made this night possible, whether through corporate sponsorship, donating auction items, or volunteering their time and services - we can't thank you enough. This night would never be possible without the support of our Event Partners. Redarc Electronics and the CMV Foundation are longtime supporters of Catherine House and were once again our Major Event Partners for the event. Our sincere thank you to our Gold Partners, DHB Lawyers and the William Buck Foundation; our Silver Partners, Catapult Foundation and DI Live; and our Bronze Partners, the Sarah Group and Air Diffusion Agencies, for your continued support of this event.
The Gala Dinner raised an incredible $288,000. All funds directly support the Catherine House Crisis Accommodation Service.
major event partners
gold partners
silver partners
bronze partners
thank you to our live auction donors
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 07
COMMUNITY FUNDRAISING
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY, 8th March 2023
Catherine House received an overwhelming level of support on International Women's Day earlier this year. A wide range of events were organised to raise funds and awareness to support this day of celebration and empowerment. Women came together to talk openly about their experiences of gender bias, inequality, domestic violence, homelessness, sexual abuse, ageism and sexism. The bravery and vulnerability of the women sharing their stories was astounding. Their motivation for doing so is often wanting other women not to feel alone, this sentiment inspired many in the room.
A huge congratulations to the three Healthy Inspirations Centres, Prospect, Frewville and Blackwood for raising funds and awareness for Catherine House throughout their March walking challenge. Raising over $6,300.00, providing us with 37 nights of safe and secure accommodation for a woman. We truly can’t thank you enough for your support. Healthy Inspirations Centres
To every individual, organisation, business, school or community group who raised funds and awareness for our work - we are incredibly grateful. We cannot survive without our community, you are our village.
A special thank you to Angela Papas from HNLY Restaurant Bar and Trinh Nguyen from Blossom Box Co for planning an exclusive event at HNLY for International Women's Day with special guest Chef George Calombaris, raising an astonishing $60,000 to support our Crisis Accommodation Service. Devastatingly, shortly after this event, Angela passed away after a long battle with cancer.
We are honoured to have worked with such an inspirational woman in her final few weeks, our respects and condolences to Trinh and all her loved ones. Angela will always hold a special place in our hearts, especially on International Women's Day.
pasadena foodland
We're thrilled to have recently partnered with Adelaide’s Finest Supermarket, Pasadena Foodland. Catherine House will now receive a percentage of proceeds from every purchase of a Community Co home-brand grocery product from their store. The funds raised from this partnership directly support our Crisis Accommodation Service. Thank you to Foodland Pasadena for your generous support.
if you would like to fundraise for Catherine House please contact Molly at: fundraising@catherinehouse.org.au
PAGE 08 | CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
COMMUNITY AMBASSADORS
SCHOOL FUNDRAISING
ambassador update
Catherine House is proud to have the tremendous support of our 64 Community Ambassadors. This group of dedicated supporters is made up of 56 individuals, three groups and five families. Since they began fundraising in February 2023, they have organised 16 events, with many more planned. All funds raised through the Community Ambassador Program support our Crisis Accommodation Service. What a fantastic start to the year! We're grateful for their incredible hard work. Here are just a few of their 2023 achievements:
doing business in heels, dbh lawyers
Doing Business in Heels is an initiative the aims to connect and inspire women in business. Guest speaker Karen Eley, Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator spoke about the importance of women ensuring they have a positive relationship with their finances and investing in their own financial freedom.
Henley High School
The generosity of young people never fails to bring a smile to our faces. Pictured above are students from Henley High School, with their enormous donation of household items and toiletries for the women at Catherine House.
Thank you to DBH Managing Partner and Community Ambassador Amy Nikolovski for hosting the event and Karen for so generously donating her time. An incredible $3.900 was raised and an enjoyable night was had by all.
Masquerade Garden Party
Community Ambassadors Laila, Irena and Stacey hosted a Masquerade Party to raise funds an awareness for Catherine House. More than 100 people joined them for a wonderful night of food, wine and of course fundraising! A big thank you to everyone who donated towards this event and an extra thanks to Andrew “Cosi” Costello for hosting the incredibly successful auction. The event raised over $30,000 and was certainly a highlight on the SA social calendar!
SEYMOUR COLLEGE
Students across Seymour College participated in fundraising activities, including a bake sale and purple ribbon sales. Inspired by the efforts of
UPCOMING EVENTS
Our incredible Ambassadors are continuously hosting events to raise funds and awareness for women experiencing homelessness. From movie nights and cocktail parties to bingo and trivia events! You can discover what new events are coming up by scanning the QR code. All events are open to the public, everyone is welcome!
their Year 1 teacher, Katherine Dunning - a Catherine House
Ambassador - the students raised an incredible $2,600, presenting a cheque to our Fundraising and Campaign Coordinator, Molly Dyer.
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 09
Government House recognition & awards ceremony On 22nd June, we gathered at Government House to host our annual recognition and awards ceremony. Hosted by our patron, Her Excellency The Honourable Frances Adamson, AC Governor of South Australia, the evening was a wonderful celebration of the accomplishments of our supporters, volunteers and ambassadors.
Volunteer Recognition Award Sue Fraser Sue was unable to attend in person, Her Excellency presented the award on her behalf.
Community Ambassador Award Sarah Henson Sarah, one of our Community Ambassadors, is passionate about raising funds and awareness for women’s homelessness and the work of Catherine House. In 2022 she outstandingly raised over $10,000 through her jewellery business, “Love for Lobes”, and through her community networks. These efforts contributed to more than $55,000 raised by our Ambassadors collectively.
Sue has been a committed volunteer tutor at Catherine House since March 2016. Throughout this time, she has provided one-on-one language, literacy, and ESL tutoring to countless women. The impact of this support has improved their quality of life. It has enabled women to participate more confidently in the community, their daily interactions, and their educational pursuits. Of importance is the kind but professional, gentle and sensitive approach she has used to gain the trust and engagement of clients.
Sharon Romeo & Mandy Hall
Highest Community Fundraiser Award
Sharon Romeo and Mandy Hall created the Inaugural Beyond Our Wildest Dreams Event. A fundraiser showcasing some of South Australia's best female chefs as well as South Australian Food and Wine. The fundraiser sold out in less than 48 hours and raised over $65,000 for our Crisis Accommodation Service.
PAGE 10 | CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
the annual Catherine house awards were presented to the following recipients for their dedicated work in 2022:
Lauren Southwood
Young Achiever Award Lauren was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in 2016, and after ten rounds of chemotherapy, she was granted a wish through the Make- a-Wish Foundation. In a completely selfless act, Lauren decided she wanted to use her wish to help those less fortunate than her. This resulted in her purchasing and putting together Moving on Packs for women who were leaving Catherine House into their own accommodation, supporting them in restarting their lives.
Community Awareness & Engagement Award Sonya Watson Inviting women to use their voices and share their stories is something that is encouraged at Catherine House. Sonya is passionate about breaking the stereotype of people experiencing homelessness. In 2022 Sonya participated in multiple speaking engagements, media opportunities and shared her story with over 300 guests at the annual Gala Dinner to raise awareness for Catherine House.
Catherine McAuley Award Calvary Care
Calvary Care has provided supported volunteering opportunities for over three years to women at Catherine House. This support has filled a need for women to gain valuable work experience in a safe, supported, encouraging environment. It has enabled women to build their confidence, make their resumes current, leading to further education and resulting in life-changing employment pathways. They have created flexibility in their recruitment practices to facilitate the transition from volunteer work to paid employment for a current Catherine House client, who has been performing her role in an exemplary manner for years.
CATHERINE HOUSE CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER | 35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION | PAGE 11
THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
MAJOR EDUCATION PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNERS
MAJOR IN-KIND PARTNERS
Tel: (08) 8232 2282 Fax: (08) 8223 7548
reception@catherinehouse.org.au
PO Box 6031 Halifax Street Adelaide SA 5000
ABN 32 944 754 177
Charity Licence CCP2586
i / we would like to donate: STEP 1
Allows a Catherine House client to receive a gift card to support any immediate needs she may have $50 Supports a night's accommodation for a woman entering our Crisis Accommodation Service $25 Provides a Welcome Pack for a woman arriving at Catherine House $152 $1,000 Supports one week's accommodation for a woman entering our Crisis Accommodation Service
Your choice: $
STEP 2
my / our contact information:
Ms
Mr
Mrs
Miss
Other
First Name:
Last Name:
Organisation Name: Postal Address:
Postcode:
You can also donate online by scanning here!
Phone:
Email:
STEP 3
my / our payment details:
Method of payment Please charge my:
Mastercard
Visa
Please note we only accept Mastercard or Visa
/
Card Number
Expiry Date
CVV
Name on card
Signature
OR
All donations $2 and over are tax deductible
Enclosed is my cheque payable to Catherine House Inc Enclosed is my cash donation
heart
of gold - join our regular giving community who support women experiencing homelessness! Yes! I would like to support women in their journey of ending their homelessness - for good.
Please deduct $
Weekly
Monthly
Quarterly
Yearly
I would like to learn more about leaving a lasting gift to Catherine House in my will I have already included a gift in my will If you have selected the above, you will be contacted directly by Catherine House Please return this form to PO Box 6031 Halifax Street Adelaide SA 5000 or email to: fundraising@catherinehouse.org.au thank you for your kindness.
ONLINE SHOP CATHERINE HOUSE
WE ARE THRILLED TO HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED AN ONLINE SHOP! SCAN THE QR CODE BELOW TO CHECK OUT OUR FUNDRAISERS AND MERCHANDISE.
KYTONS LAMINGTON DRIVE
We're celebrating International Lamington Day on Friday 21 July! Catherine House Community Ambassador and owner of Adelaide's iconic Kytons Bakery, Sharon Sutton, has partnered with us to bring you Australia's favourite lamingtons. Proceeds raised will support our Crisis Accommodation Service. Orders are open from Friday 21 July until 11.59pm Wednesday 9 August.
A perfect gift for yourself or someone special - whilst raising money to support women experiencing homelessness. Their pink and gold-hued blooms produce a lovely soft fragrance and look fantastic in the garden. Named by a Catherine House client, the gorgeous Bright Spirit Rose is just $29.95 and are ready to be planted or potted now! Limited supply only - available until sold out. BRIGHT SPIRIT ROSE
Show your support through your style by picking up a Catherine House T-Shirt or Tote Bag! The soft cotton AS Colour shirts come in a range of sizes and are just $30 each. Show your pride in supporting women experiencing homeless with a tote bag for $10. CATHERINE HOUSE MERCHANDISE
SCAN ME TO TO PURCHASE LAMINGTONS, ROSES AND MERCHANDISE. Or visit: www.catherinehouse.org.au/support/shop
(08) 8232 2282 reception@catherinehouse.org.au
catherinehouse.org.au
@CatherineHouseAdl
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