Always Mum

Photography: Anna Turner, Portrait of mother and child

Always Mum is a program at Lou’s which works with women who have children in Out of Home Care (OOHC). The mothers complete a 10-week group work program which offers comprehensive case management and advocacy, while helping them to rebuild their relationships with their children. One such way is through mothers writing letters and emails to their children. We also offer the mums the opportunity to record themselves reading a story to their children in OOHC. Children missing their mums can hear their voice. We help the mums choose an age-appropriate story which they can connect to. For example, it was Mum’s favourite as a little girl, or it’s an Aboriginal story sharing culture and belonging. Volunteer Maryanne Galea has shown such compassion in helping the mums record their stories. 

Anna Turner, our volunteer photographer, has been taking portraits of the mothers for the last two years, and her framed photographs sit on many bedside tables. Having a photo that mums are proud of helps them build their self-esteem, while reflecting their hard work and the change taking place in their lives. We are very grateful to both volunteers Anna and Maryanne for their involvement with Always Mum.