Pop In Launches in Bowral.
An amazing and super important resource has just opened in Bowral – Pop In is a new service dedicated to helping women and children affected by domestic violence and abuse.
Sadly, it’s a much-needed service and after officially opening recently, the team is already helping a number of local families stay safe and navigate a new normal.
Pop In is a privately funded, not for profit organisation with an impressive board of experienced (and local – yay!) professionals, and a passionate team running the space at 2 Mona Road, Bowral.
We caught up with Pop In’s Chair, Vicki Kelley, to find out a little more about this important support service in the Southern Highlands.
Vicki Kelley
1 // First of all, let’s talk about the support Pop In provides to local women and children.
We have a team of case workers who are domestic violence specialists. They provide support, assistance and advocacy for women and children facing the all-too-common issue of domestic violence.
We’ve created a space that feels safe and comfortable with lovely volunteers who make morning tea, lunch and can make a cuppa at a moment’s notice. There will also be specific programs – it may be an art class, yoga, a book club – run by volunteers.
And while Pop In doesn’t provide emergency housing, we can work with providers like Argyle Housing to help find suitable accommodation as fast as possible.
It’s a daytime refuge and drop-in centre where women and their children can have somewhere warm to go, have something to eat, have a shower, and access case workers that can help them with whatever it is they need – whether it’s legal advocacy, help negotiating tricky financial situations or dealing with Centrelink, the courts or the Child Support Agency, or sourcing housing options.
2 // Sadly, this level of support is needed in the Southern Highlands, isn’t it?
People often think that something like domestic violence doesn’t happen somewhere like the Southern Highlands or in their neighbourhood, but it does. Domestic violence statistics show the occurrence of domestic violence is higher in rural and regional areas.
There was also very little support for women who needed it within the Highlands. Up until now there was one dedicated domestic violence caseworker. Now, with the introduction of Pop In, there are three more experienced and dedicated domestic violence caseworkers.
3 // It’s so great that Pop In is community owned and privately funded – why is that important to the way you run in it?
The house was donated to us by a local – that really started to get things moving for us because we had somewhere to call home so to speak. Our Board Members, who are all local, called on their networks and we managed to pull together enough funding to make Pop In a reality.
We’ve been overwhelmed by the support from the community actually – completely overwhelmed. It means we don’t have to rely on government funding or on the terms and conditions that are sometimes attached to accessing those funds.
It really gives us an opportunity to create a strong model that we hope is replicated across rural and regional Australia.
It also gives us the flexibility to help a woman, regardless of what she needs. Someone may need us for two days or we might be working with someone for months or years. Being privately funded allows us to adapt and change and create a truly individualised experience for each person.
Pop In board members at the official launch.
4 // There’s a lovely story about the history of the house, isn’t there?
Oh yes. A lovely lady called Nancy Davenport came and saw us before the official launch and told us she lived in the house when she was a child. She also told us it was called The Haven back then.
Nancy had a sign made up with The Haven on it and donated it to us – it was such a lovely gesture and aligned perfectly with what we’re doing for women and children in the Highlands.
5 // And there are women and children using Pop In now that it’s open?
Yes, we are already working with a number of local families. We’re just so proud of the environment we’ve created here. A number of women have already commented on how safe and comfortable they feel here.
One told us she felt listened to for the first time, that someone really wanted to hear her story and not judge her.
That’s pretty powerful for us. We know we’re on the right track and are very proud and passionate about what we do here.
Pop In is for women and children threatened or impacted by domestic violence and abuse in the Wingecarribee Shire, helping them access the right services, provide the right support and get back on their feet.
If you’d like to volunteer at Pop In, please contact the team here.
Please support this fantastic initiative when you can, and if you or someone you know is impacted by domestic abuse and violence, get in touch with the Pop In team for practical and professional guidance, advice and support.
