One year on: Safe Woman, Safe Family mark first anniversary with online celebration

Safe Woman, Safe Family opened the doors to their Pinjarra drop-in centre on April 29, 2019 to offer much-needed support for victims in isolated areas.

The community welcomed the new premises at an official opening last year - led by co-centre facilitators Tanya Langford and Irene Lydon.

The hub was created to support, help and empower women who have been affected by any form of violence, abuse and trauma.

But Ms Langford said it was a long time in the making.

"Irene and I registered Safe Woman, Safe Family in January 2018 and began working every weekend together to come up with our vision, mission, goals and marketing plans," she said.

"We held a launch in June 2018 and starting looking for premises when we connected with [Murray-Wellington MP] Robyn Clarke and the Shire of Murray.

"After lengthy discussions, the council voted unanimously to support us and waived the rental charges for 14 Camp Road in Pinjarra.

"We signed the lease for three years with the option for another three, got the keys in January 2019 and commenced extensive work on the property to have it ready for opening."

Since then, the team have implemented a number of holistic programs including therapy, trauma recovery, empowerment and self-care.

They also offer weekly counselling, yoga, meditation, kinesiology and massage sessions, women's wellness days, pamper packages and weekend healing retreats.

Ms Langford said they had helped more than 150 women through the drop-in centre over the last 12 months.

"What we offer to so many women contributes to reducing the number of women impacted by domestic violence and children raised in families impacted by all forms of abuse," she said.

"The programs and therapies accessible to women at the centre are a wonderful opportunity for healing, growth, empowerment not available anywhere else in the region and possibly the state.

"Another beautiful aspect is community we have created between the women, volunteers and facilitators as well as the wonderful friendships formed between women who were feeling very lonely and isolated.

"We are also so grateful for the community's support through collaborations, sponsorships and donations."

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The women who have received help from Safe Woman, Safe Family expressed nothing but gratitude for the programs on offer.

"I was broken inside. I am now a strong, fierce and an independent woman," one woman said.

"It was the best thing I have done. I've let go of the past and am taking on my future with both hands and heart," another woman added.

"The world needs programs like this."

The team had plans to celebrate their first anniversary with a big party at the drop-in centre, and plenty of cake but were forced to cancel the festivities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead they will celebrate virtually with an online slideshow detailing their achievements in their first year of operation.

Ms Langford said they were focused on a bright future for the service, with plenty of exciting plans in store over the next 12 months.

"We want to see more and more women accessing the centre as word spreads and we hope to see the model taken on in other regions across the state," she said.

"We are in discussions with a local medical centre to have a female GP visit the centre regularly to conduct women's health checks.

"We would like to access funding to allow us to move into early intervention programs with teenagers, conduct self-defence workshops and to be able to offer the 15 week empowerment group in other locations."

The centre is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

For more information, visit www.safewomansafefamilywa.com.

Are you experiencing domestic violence? Call police on 000 in an emergency or 131 444 to report an incident. For counselling or support services call the free 24-hour Women's Domestic Violence Helpline on 1800 007 339.