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Based on annual analysis of our client information database, we know there will be at least 250 more women and children who turn to Mary’s House Services for assistance this year.
Your support will help at least 250 new clients, and likely more, find safety and hope this financial year.
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In this edition, you'll read about:
- Support for 21 women and 17 children in our refuge last year, with more than 96% transitioning into safe, longer-term housing
- Delivery of vital social worker support, legal and financial clinics, therapeutic programs, and practical day-to-day support for hundreds of clients
- Our community where domestic and family violence is reported at alarming rates - one incident every three minutes in NSW
- How we are raising awareness and funds through the Mary's House Walk
- Acknowledging the generosity of our community partners, donors, volunteers, schools, and businesses who walk alongside us
- Maureen’s story of courage and healing, and the hope that drives us every day
- How gift cards can brighten the holiday season for our clients
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Every woman who comes to Mary’s House Services is met with wraparound support from refuge services and access to transitional housing, to casework, counselling, court advocacy, safety planning, and therapeutic programs.
Last year, 21 women and 17 children found safety in our refuge. Over 96% of those families moved on to safe, longer-term housing. Many also joined our community programs, attending legal and financial clinics, wellbeing workshops, and safety planning sessions to help them take the next steps forward.
58% of our clients are referred by partner services or others and 42% seek our help directly.
Expert social worker support was provided to 167 families last financial year.
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Early bird registration has been extended until midnight Monday 7 October |
Walk with us and hundreds of others, on Sunday 26 October to say no to domestic and family violence in our community, alert those in need of our support, and raise funds for our vital work.
Join your community, their families, friends and colleagues and even furry four-legged friends on a lead, to traverse the leafy suburbs, parkland, and harbour view pathways of northern Sydney.
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Domestic and family violence is a local problem. The Sydney Morning Herald reported in late 2024 that three of the top five suburbs for alcohol-fuelled domestic and family violence in Australia are right in Mary’s House Services' backyard here in North Sydney, Mosman, and the Northern Beaches.
Police receive a domestic and family violence report every three minutes in NSW, and it now accounts for more than 60% of their workload. With more than 50% of cases never reported to police, the true scale of the crisis is even greater. We have also noticed an upswing in demand for our services - we had a 63% increase in requests for support last year.
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Did you know?
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Mary's House
had a
63%
increase in
requests for support
last year
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more than
50%
of domestic & family
violence cases are
never reported to police
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1 in 3
women aged
18-25 years old will be
impacted by a domestic violence incident
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We are sustained by our community’s generosity in many forms: |
Our ability to save the lives and give hope to clients relies on the generosity of so many. The people who support our work with donations of goods and services, tax deductible donations, event attendance and grants include:
- Philanthropists who make single grants for service delivery or provide access to housing,
- Regular givers who make a monthly donation,
- Community members who pledge to support our work with a gift in their will,
- Trustees of foundations and trusts which make grants for programs, frontline roles, refuge services, client transport, client relocation, and operational needs,
- Local council members and staff who facilitate grants for program expansion, volunteer training and operations,
- The congregations of faith communities like Our Lady of the Way Parish, Uniting Church Willoughby, and Baptist Northside,
- Leaders and teams of our corporate partners who attend events, make grants, and provide goods and services for our operation,
- Students, staff, and parents at local schools who support our events and host fundraisers on our behalf,
- Service clubs and sporting clubs who host fundraisers and make donations and grants,
- Our wonderful volunteers and Mary's House Services members.
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Our first and longest-term corporate partner is the Mater Hospital (part of the St Vincent’s Health network) an icon of care, healing, and hope for more than 110 years and an enduring friend of Mary’s House Services.
The Mater made a commitment to our services from inception, recognising the alignment of our values. The hospital has provided financial contributions and provides various other forms of support for our clients such as direct healthcare and practical support for our refuge services.
We are delighted to take this moment to acknowledge and thank The Mater hospital team - our sustained friendship is a wonderful example of how two organisations with shared values can magnify their social impact through deep, collaborative partnership.
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This Christmas, we are asking you to please give women and their families agency and choice by donating low-denomination gift cards for department stores, supermarkets, and essential suppliers. Gift cards empower our clients to select gifts, Christmas food and back-to-school items that suit their families best.
Corporates and individuals can convert reward or loyalty points into gift cards or simply purchase cards directly and donate them to us with proof of purchase. Your generosity will help our clients prepare for the festive season and the 2026 school year. Contact donations@maryshouse.org.au or call 02 89372094 for more information.
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Every act of support strengthens our mission. Earlier this year, we were honoured with a reception at NSW Government House, recognising our grassroots community origins and the members who founded our services.
In a record-breaking fundraiser for Mary's House Services, the Infinity Constructions team once again ranked among the top City2Surf fundraisers, generously inspiring their community to support our work.
Celebration moments this year so far have included:
- Honoured by Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales,
- Infinity Constructions among top City2Surf fundraisers two years running,
- Receipt of a Ku-ring-gai Rotary Community Service Award for Mary's House Services' founding members,
- NSW Volunteer of the Year Award for all Mary's House Services volunteers,
- An amazing partnership and season with the North Sydney Bears,
- Success at the Bendigo Bank Community Pitch night,
- School support and engagement including at Shore's Leadership Day, Redlands Festival on the Fahl and a presentation at Marist Sisters' College, Woolwich.
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Maureen's Story: Finding peace and safety |
Maureen is a mother and a grandmother and is in her mid-70s - her story reminds us that domestic and family violence does not discriminate by age or stage of life. Under-reporting of domestic violence is thought to be more common among older women due to dependence on the abuser, shame and stigma and lack of awareness of support services - only 1 in 3 older women experiencing family violence seek support.
Maureen faced challenging circumstances when she chose to leave an abusive relationship - she required a range of services and referrals to enable her to live away from the perpetrator and receive financial support. Maureen was safely relocated and provided resources for her new accommodation, including furniture, linen, kitchenware, and personal needs
The resilience of clients like Maureen is one of the 250 reasons we are here for our clients, and why your support matters more than ever.
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A monthly donation to Mary's House Services is a powerful way to sustain our life-saving work. Your regular support gives us the confidence to commit to our longer-term goals - even smaller gifts can combine with others to make a real difference to women's and children's safety.
With your monthly generosity, we can keep growing to meet the increasing need for services. We have at least 250 reasons this year to ask for your kind and ongoing support.
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Thank you for standing with us, saying no to domestic and family violence, and yes to safety, hope, and healing.
With gratitude,
Yvette Vignando
CEO |
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ABOUT US
Mary’s House Services was founded in Sydney's Northern Suburbs by a group of dedicated community members in 2016. Since establishment, our refuge and community program work has been sustained solely by the generosity of the community - those who care deeply about the safety of women and children and are committed to saying no to domestic violence in any form. #SayNo |
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