Reflecting on the legacy of the organisation, how do you plan to build upon the existing foundation to lead You Matter into a new era?
Eight years after the Victorian Royal Commission into Family Violence and the delivery of 227 recommendations resulting in significant progress and increased awareness in the space, the current statistics and almost daily media headlines demonstrate that we still have a long way to go in addressing family violence in a real, meaningful, and sustained way. You Matter plays a vital role in the family violence service system, assisting women and children in recovery, healing, and creating a new life free from violence and fear. As a relatively new organisation, it is important that we are bold and articulate the significant contribution we make to the family violence service system, gather evidence that continues to support this impact in supporting women’s healing, and highlight the important role that this healing plays in the long-term journey of recovery for women and their children.
Of significant importance and a key area of focus is securing adequate and recurrent funding to ensure we can respond to existing and future demands. Equally, building strong partnerships across the family violence and community services sector, along with businesses traditionally outside of the sector, is essential for a whole-of-community approach. We must encourage people to increase their understanding and knowledge of family violence and feel comfortable asking questions and learning; by breaking the silence, we remove the secrecy and shame. I strongly believe that one of the reasons You Matter has been so successful to date is that the work we do is immediate and impactful for the families we support and accessible as a concept for those external to the service system who truly want to contribute and make a difference. Each and every one of us knows how it feels to be ‘home’, to be safe and secure and free from harm, and by creating Havens of Hope, that is what we have been able to achieve for over 207 women and 245 children since our inception.
What is the process for securing a Haven of Hope for the women and children seeking a fresh start in life?
Our primary relationship is with a large number of government-funded, specialist family violence service providers located throughout Metropolitan Melbourne. These providers have a direct case management relationship with women and children who have been impacted by family violence and are progressing through the crisis and response stage. You Matter works within the recovery stage, which is when women have transitioned from short-term, emergency housing and secured long-term accommodation, often after an extremely long and protracted period of time and different locations.
During the recovery stage, women are significantly vulnerable and often at risk of harm due to returning to the perpetrator because of financial stress, including the very real possibility of not being able to furnish their newly acquired house with even the most basic items.
That’s when You Matter steps in by offering a tailored response and establishing a fully functional home based on the individual needs of the women and children who are referred to us by their specialist family violence case manager. The intervention we provide is immediate, impactful, and creates a lasting difference, ensuring that a woman and her children have all the material items they need so they are not forced to return to the perpetrator for economic reasons and can commence their journey of healing.
Once we receive a referral, we generally deliver a Haven within one week. The process involves collating, delivering, and staging furniture and every other household item you could imagine, based on the "wish list" of the women and children who have been referred to us. Every Haven we deliver is unique, just like the family who will be making it their home. It never ceases to have an impact, seeing what we create and hearing the stories of the families when they see their Haven for the first time. Hearing comments such as "I feel valued", "I feel seen and heard", and "I feel safe" never cease to touch my heart. Recently, when a very young child asked, "Is that bed for me?", my heart broke a little, but it also strengthened my resolve and commitment to the impact and importance of You Matter and the work we do.
