Berry Street

Last Friday, Berry Street Yooralla staff marched for the Walk Against Family Violence. The walk occurs during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence – a global campaign for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.   Did you also know that children are present in almost one in three family and domestic violence incidents attended by police? Berry Street Yooralla believes that children should be considered victim survivors of violence in their own right, and their voices should be heard and respected by the broader system. We stand in solidarity with families experiencing violence and are working toward a future where everyone can live safely at home. Learn more about the 16 impacts of family violence on children that you might not know about here: https://lnkd.in/gDYeQE5S #WalkAgainstFamilyViolence #FamilyViolence #DomesticViolence #16DaysofActivismAgainstGenderBasedViolence

Are you a professional ready to deepen your engagement with children and young people? Join us for All About Me, a powerful workshop to support children's growth, self-identity and connection based on Richard Rose's Therapeutic Life Story Work Model. 💼 Who should attend? This training is excellent for professionals including social care staff, councillors, therapists, teachers, youth workers and other related professions. ⭐ What you will gain: Learn how to successfully implement the "All About Me" process and how it can aid assessments, court work, placements and school engagement. 🏷️ Cost: $380 (incl. GST) 💻 Format: Online Don't miss this opportunity for vital professional development. Register now and secure your place! ➡️ https://lnkd.in/g7jiC5bD #TherapeuticLifeStoryWork #ProfessionalDevelopment #TraumaInformedCare #SocialWork #YouthWork

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It also marks the beginning of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence. A call for global solidarity to end violence against women and girls everywhere. Here at Berry Street Yooralla, we’re dealing with the impacts of this violence every day. In fact, in 2024, we saw a 43% increase in people using our family violence services. Right now, one woman is killed nearly every week by a current or former partner in Australia. Did you also know that children are affected in large numbers too? 40% of children have been exposed to family and domestic violence during childhood and 32% have experienced physical abuse, according to the Australian Child Maltreatment Study. Berry Street Yooralla advocates that children must be considered as victim survivors in their own right. Learn more about the impacts of family violence on children here: https://lnkd.in/gDYeQE5S

🥳 This week we thank EnergyAustralia for driving youth independence in Latrobe City! 🥳 We are thrilled to announce that Berry Street is a recipient of the EnergyAustralia Community Grants Program, funding 100 professional driving lessons for the TAC L2P (Learner Driver Mentor) Program. This vital support will help at least 45 young people who lack access to a supervising driver or vehicle gain the supervised driving experience they need to get their probationary licence. For young people in regional communities, a driver's licence is often the key to unlocking opportunities—accessing employment, education, and training. 🚗 You can learn more about the TAC L2P program here: https://lnkd.in/g4R8dTnJ

Today marks the beginning of #TransAwarenessWeek! We celebrate trans pride and resilience and commit to advocating against the discrimination and prejudice that impacts so many. To live up to this commitment, it's important to consider questions like: How can we visibly and tangibly be an ally to the trans and gender diverse community? For trans and gender diverse young people and families, safety and affirmation are vital for health and well-being. That's why Berry Street is proud to be a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation. Here are just some of the inclusive practices we've implemented as part of achieving the Rainbow Tick: ❤️ Created a Pride Advisory Group made up of LGBTIQA+ staff and allies 🧡 Initiated a Rainbow Steering Committee, to help lead the work across regions and program areas 💛 Reviewed our policies and procedures to ensure they are inclusive of LGBTIQA+ communities 💚 Wrote new policies including those which support trans and non-binary staff to affirm their gender and outline how we support LGBTIQA+ children and young people. 💙 Developed our own LGBTIQA+ inclusive practice online training module, which has been completed by over 90% of our staff 💜 Most importantly, this work has meant that we have greatly improved the way that we support LGBTIQA+ service users right across our program areas. Allyship means taking tangible steps to create a system where trans people can thrive without fear. This Trans Awareness Week, let's learn, advocate, and ensure our support lasts year-round. Visit Minus18 Foundation's website to learn all about Transgender Awareness Week, and how you or your organisation can show support!

This Christmas, give a gift that truly matters. 🎁 We're aiming to ensure that 750 children living in out-of-home care feel special on Christmas morning. For these young people, Christmas can be a challenging time, and your kindness is essential. Help spread joy and kindness by purchasing a Gift from the Heart through Berry Street's online catalogue. From soft toys to books, to items for a beach trip—the gifts ensure a child who has experienced trauma feels special this Christmas. Let's make sure every child has something to cherish on Christmas morning. Give the gift of kindness today. View the catalogue now: https://lnkd.in/gj8cT7Rj

"But why can't I go home back to mum and dad?" These are the types of questions children in care ask every day - and especially so at Christmas. Ollie's* early life was marked by instability and confusion. Removed from his family as a baby due to family violence and homelessness, he longed for the connection he missed. Compounded by disability, Ollie needed extra specialised support to navigate a confusing world. While many families gather in joy this Christmas, children like Ollie are on a journey to recover from trauma. Donate this Christmas and help a child like Ollie find a safe home, their confidence, and their forever feeling of safety. Visit our website to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gua4YxTG *Name has been changed

Last night, Berry Street Yooralla held our annual partner event, an "Evening of Legacy and Impact." It was a wonderful success, uniting our corporate partners, donors, and the community to shine a light on the urgent challenge of family violence, abuse and trauma in Victoria. We were incredibly moved by keynote speaker Australian tennis legend Jelena Dokic, who shared her raw, inspiring story of overcoming child abuse to her incredible success as a tennis player, author and TV presenter. Her courage resonated deeply, reminding us all of the profound resilience at the heart of our work. The evening reinforced the crucial need for action to address the societal problem of family violence. North Regional Director James Stubbs articulated, "unresolved problems don’t disappear – they simply show up elsewhere in the system... If we fail to act, we pay for it in child protection, in youth justice, in homelessness, in disability services, and in human potential lost." To our incredible partners, including Kay & Burton Foundation, Vanguard Australia, Goldman Sachs, Tyalla Capital, and Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club, we extend our deepest gratitude. Your support is truly crucial and enables us to provide safety and recovery for over 39,000 children, young people, and families. Thank you for standing with Berry Street Yooralla to break the cycle of violence.

We are delighted to again partner with Dr. Henning Mohaupt, PhD (Norway) to deliver this highly anticipated webinar. Henning will provide an overview on how Alternative to Violence (ATV), a Norwegian NGO became Europe’s oldest and most specialised service for families affected by violence today. Gain an in-depth understanding of the Scandinavian model, which integrates feminist analysis of violence with trauma-informed psychological perspectives and psychotherapeutic treatment options. Register now: https://lnkd.in/g_FPRB_y You will learn to: 👉 Identify the influence of family violence on parenting and psychological development. 👉 Discuss psychotherapy approaches for children and adults who have experienced violence, and with adults who have used violence 👉 Understand how therapeutic intervention can facilitate changes in relational safety for children #ProfessionalLearning #DomesticViolence #DomesticViolencePractitioners #FamilyViolence #FamilyServices #FamilyServicesLearning

Berry Street Yooralla is hosting our annual Evening of Legacy and Impact this week. An event where we share more about the impact our work is having across the community with partners and valued supporters. We are honoured to welcome Jelena Dokic as our special guest speaker. Jelena, a former world number 4 tennis player, embodies true resilience. Her story is a powerful reflection of the courage and strength we champion every day at Berry Street Yooralla.