I’m looking for help
I’m trying to help a loved one
Holistic support is at the heart of the Waullo Dawn Healing Service, where the team is always advocating for the best possible outcomes for clients.
Michelle* was recently referred to the family and domestic violence (FDV) hub by the Department of Communities for mental health and FDV counselling.
Waullo Dawn Healing Service is operated jointly by HOPE and Yorgum Healing Services, and is supported by additional partnerships with leading community service providers.
On her first visit to the service, Michelle began an initial assessment with Waullo Dawn Safety Advocate Hayley Dodd (employed by Yorgum). The assessment however, had to stop when she became overwhelmed.
Hayley instead invited Michelle to attend one of the regular groups at the hub, Threads of Hope, an arts and craft group led by Family Support Worker Penny Callaghan (employed by Yorgum).
After settling into the group, Michelle began to build a strong connection with the Waullo Dawn team, and began to share that she needed help with her laundry.
By the next week, the Waullo Dawn team had arranged transport for Michelle and her child so that she could come to her regular group and also use the hub’s washing machine and dryer.
Advocacy in action
What Michelle had not yet told Hayley nor Penny was the seriousness of the violence that she and her children had experienced, and the ongoing risk that the violence would reoccur.
The person who had used violence was under investigation by both the Family Violence Investigation Squad and the Department of Communities.
Michelle was asked to attend an interview with a Detective to provide evidence of this person’s violent behaviour towards her and her children.
The interview was originally planned to be held at in the Perth CBD however, with the support of the Armadale CRS team, Department of Communities – Child Safety Team and Family Safety Service, the Waullo Dawn team convinced the Detective to meet with Michelle at the hub.
On the day of the interview, transport was again arranged for Michelle and her child.
During the interview the child was supervised in the creche while Michelle met with the Detective in a nearby room.
At one point, Michelle became overwhelmed during the interview and Safety Advocate Hayley was able to sit with her and help her to feel calm.
Afterwards, the Detective sent a note of thanks to the team for organising the alternate location, acknowledging that “it helped that we were there and not in a police station”.
Supporting client healing
Michelle is still at the very beginning of her healing journey, and the team is working alongside her as she works to make sure that person who used violence against her is made visible and held accountable.
She continues to attend groups and is now sharing more freely about her worries and the supports she needs.
It is thanks to the compassion and understanding of Hayley, Penny and the wider Waullo Dawn team that women like Michelle are able to find the client-focused, trauma-informed support that they need.
* Not her real name. Pseudonym has been used.
Waullo Dawn Healing Service offers a range of holistic and trauma-informed services to those who have experienced – or are experiencing – family and domestic violence.
