Mount Gambier women’s safety hub “The Haven is beginning to return to its regular opening days after a recent decrease due to volunteer shortages.
Located at the Mount Gambier Library, The Haven is now open Tuesday to Friday from 10am until 2pm and The Haven volunteer Kerri Huxtable believed due to a new staff intake, Mondays would also be back on the agenda soon.
Safety Hub Coordinator Trish Griffith said COVID-19 had impacted The Haven’s opening days along with renovations in the library café.
“At the moment we have been just staffed by volunteers and there are various reasons why volunteers are not available,” Ms Griffith said.
“That’s just the nature of volunteering especially in these times when people are getting sick and it’s not just with COVID either, people need to stay home if they’re feeling unwell.
“We appreciate what they do when they are available.”
Ms Griffith said the Office for Women received further funding which enabled them to employ a Haven Community Partner through Centacare, who will work every day to support volunteers and do community engagement.
“We’re really keen to get our new Haven Community Partner started so we can do a lot more, really support not just women in the community but other services in the community as well who all play a role to keeping women safe,” she said.
Ms Huxtable said The Haven was a referral service with an array of pamphlets and information so they could point women in the right direction towards the support they needed.
“We hope to be a first point of call for people whether it be in a domestic violence situation or crisis, or just any kind of a first-point service to then refer them to places,” she said.
“We’re getting them into the direct spot to where they need to go plus providing that empathetic ear and a safe space to have that conversation.
“The library has been great with supporting The Haven there as well, we appreciate the assistance they have given us and the volunteers who make it happen.”
Ms Huxtable said The Haven was starting to organise more activities to get people involved, such as a new ‘Coffee and a Chat’ group.
“Sometimes being part of a social group before they seek that help is very beneficial,” she said.
Ms Huxtable believed it was important Mount Gambier had a space like The Haven because it was a region that needed help and a place for people to go.
“I think you just have to look at the statistics that are happening in Mount Gambier for particularly domestic violence, but also for mental health and various other things, it’s fairly high in Mount Gambier,” she said.
“My thought is always if you can help one person then it’s always worth it.
“It’s definitely a crucial thing for the community.”
Men can also use The Haven to obtain information for a woman they know and the service also has information about Mount Gambier men’s groups.
The Women’s Information Service can be contacted via 1800 188 158 and visit the Women’s Information Service website for The Haven’s current opening hours.
