OUR REFUGE
Macleod Accommodation Support Service supports women and children experiencing domestic and family violence achieve safe and secure accommodation. As a service we are continually reviewing and advancing our practises and endeavour to provide our clients with the most practical and supportive services available. The model we offer is based on unit-style independent living with afterhours emergency on-call availability of staff.
Services are provided on a continuum:
- Refuge – crisis accommodation with high level of support
- External crisis housing – short-term accommodation with medium-low level of support
2 bed unit children’s bedroom
2 bedroom living area
Child friendly rooms
Children Support Offices
Children’s activity spaces
Counselling room
Double beds
Group education area and kitchen
Laptops for client use
Library trolley refreshed daily
Library trolley refreshed daily
Living area 1 bedroom apartment
Platinum disability unit
Unit bathroom
Women’s Support
Case management is an integral feature of life at Macleod. During case management clients and case managers work collaboratively to produce and define goals for the client and design case plans which inform client needs. This approach highlights the value women have as being the experts of their own stories.
We value to diversity of the women we work with and employ a range of services regularly to further our supports including interpreting services, advocacy support, immigration, family law, education, Child Safety, police, Centrelink, and medical services.
Children’s Support
Our focus is on providing safety and security for children and their mothers as well as helping children find their voice and providing a safe space for them to be heard. Children should feel validated in their thoughts and feelings and must feel they can safely voice any concerns or worries they may be experiencing.
Macleod Accommodation Support Service also provides parenting support for women and promotes psychoeducational awareness through groups and individual supports with the aim that by the time a child leaves the refuge, they will be able to have a mental “safety hand” of five support people who they can contact if they need help.
Our child support worker is also available to assist clients with school and childcare enrolments and – at times – legal and medical appointments in order to ease some strain for mothers during already difficult times.
Children & Young People's Rights
We understand that for women who have experienced domestic violence, parenting can be an added stressor. Our caseworkers are available to support mothers in using alternative and appropriate parenting strategies that will help build strong and healthy attachments.
Witnessing and/or experiencing domestic violence and abuse can have a profound impact on the emotional wellbeing of children and young people.
Children and young people have the right to:
- Be heard and listened to without judgement;
- Be trusted and treated with respect;
- Have space and privacy;
- Be treated as an individual; and
- Confidentiality of information.
