Emerge Stories

In a few weeks Emerge will once again take part in the annual Walk Against Family Violence on Monday 25 November at noon from Federation Square. Emerge was at the forefront of the first Walk Against Family Violence, held in 2008. Together with other family violence services, local councils and Victoria Police, the aim was to raise awareness to help break the silence on family violence. Today the silence has been broken but it remains necessary ...

New Board Chair for Emerge We welcome Nicki Batagol, the new Chair of Emerge Women and Children’s Support Network, who will lead the Emerge Board that is made up of skilled and committed women. Nicki is a management consultant specialising in change management. She has worked in Australia and London leading global organisations through workforce transformation programs. Currently the Chair of PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) ...

Imagine Christmas celebrations without presents, food or entertainment? We couldn’t which is why we are calling for donations to support a festive party for all the women and children who use our services. “Christmas and end of year celebrations for many families who have escaped violence is an upsetting time regardless of the background you have come from. What we try to do is bring some cheer into their lives,” Jessica Woller, ...

The Emerge 24/7 refuge is close to opening, and one of the final touches is the creation of a play space for children of all ages, from young tots to teenagers. The playground will be a central hub for the families staying in the refuge, as well as families who come to Emerge for arts therapy and outreach services. Emerge is looking for donations to purchase a sandpit and toys, a basketball hoop, as well as benches where mums can sit and chat ...

Experiencing family violence is a frightening and intensely lonely experience, rarely discussed with friends and often bottled up for many years. This July, Emerge began its Women’s Counselling Service thanks to a student placement through Swinburne University, to support women with these experiences. Jane P, who oversees the program at Emerge, said: “We have had a long history of providing individual counselling to women in refuge. We saw ...

The power of volunteers is coming into its own at Emerge thanks to the establishment of the Family Support Volunteer Program. The program matches a volunteer with a family to help in any way they can to support women and their children to begin afresh. This could include assisting with looking after the children while mum cooks dinner or does the washing, tutoring children, connecting the family with other community supports, enjoying some ...

Di is one of the volunteers working within the Family Support Volunteer Program. With a wealth of expertise and a background in social work and counselling, she is delighted to put her knowledge and experience to good stead. Di also volunteers at another women’s crisis centre and is a telephone support worker for women needing information, support and referrals.   “I am a strong advocate for women who have experienced family violence, ...

To all the staff, supporters and volunteers of Emerge, It is with great pleasure that I can announce that as of 27th August 2019, Emerge Women & Children’s Support Network will be governed by a new Board. Each of the new Board members come to Emerge with a breadth of skills and knowledge, which we believe will help Emerge to continue to grow from strength to strength in the coming years.  We were delighted to be welcomed by so many ...

Jill Allan loves books, so much so that three years ago she set up Storycycle, a not-for-profit that aims to extend the life of good quality pre-loved children’s books by giving them to children who might not otherwise have as much access to books. “The idea in many ways was a no-brainer for me,” Jill said. “As a former children’s librarian working in inner city public libraries for many years, I have been passionate about introducing ...

Imagine trying to make a doctor’s appointment, fill in bank forms, or go shopping without being able to speak or read English? That’s the situation facing many women being supported by Emerge but for two, they have the assistance of volunteer Amy Sandler Roberts who is helping them to find their way around their new community.  Often women are learning to be independent for the first time since fleeing their homes to escape violence. Amy ...