A Good News Story

An increasing number of women have come to Lou’s since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2019, domestic violence support services were provided to 98 women. This increased to 202 women in 2020, and 377 women in 2021. Many have participated in our core programs, Always Mum and A Woman’s Worth. 40% of our clients are in both programs, with many women needing support both with domestic and family violence, and also after the placement of their children into out of home care.

Maelin (name changed) is one such client who benefited from our core programs. She was referred to Lou’s Place in July 2021 by the Department of Community and Justice. After arriving in Australia in 2013 on a Partnership Visa from Indonesia, she experienced significant intimate partner violence. She fled her relationship with her son in 2019. She became involved in an anti-establishment, anti-government cult which promised her community support and financial means. They encouraged her to quit her job, denied access to basic healthcare, instilled homeschooling, and linked her with a disbarred legal advocate. She became increasingly isolated, her mental health declined rapidly, and her son was removed from her care when she was admitted to an RPA psychiatric ward in early 2020. 

Lou’s Place has established rapport and trust with Maelin through Always Mum and A Woman’s Worth. They have fostered supportive connections with government agencies and provided a safe space to share her own experience within a community of women with similar experiences. She could acknowledge herself as a survivor and create a safe home for her son upon completion of Lou’s programs.

Maelin would like to maintain her connections within these groups. She has recently completed a parenting capacity assessment and it has been recommended that her son be returned to her care. This is possible thanks to the continuing support from Always Mum, and A Woman’s Worth.