Celebrating our amazing workers and the incredibly resilient women we work with on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day – a day to celebrate and promote the empowerment of women around the world – is this year exploring the theme: ‘Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow’. CatholicCare Diocese of Broken Bay (CCDBB) supports International Women’s Day and many of its programs are aimed at practically empowering women who may be facing challenging circumstances in their life.

Aulia escapes her domestic violence nightmare

When Aulia’s dream move from Indonesia to Australia with her new partner turned into a domestic violence nightmare, it led to a period of homelessness and relying on the generosity of friends to have somewhere safe to stay each night. After leaving her first partner and having to fight for residency when he cancelled her visa, Aulia met another man who also subjected her to domestic violence.

CatholicCare refuge changing lives for women experiencing domestic violence

Imagine coming to Australia from another country with your husband and two young children, only to find yourself living in fear from domestic violence, with nowhere to turn, no income, unable to speak the language and seemingly no way out. This was the situation for Farida and her children before she found the safety and support of a CatholicCare women’s refuge, which she says has changed her life.

Have you heard about our Healthy Young Men Program?

In 2017 approximately 75% of people who died by suicide were males. While visiting schools and the community, CatholicCare’s Central Coast Family Centre received repeated requests for a program for young men that would help them navigate relationships and help them to understand what respectful relationships look like, while promoting positive mental health.

Domestic and family violence rife across our Diocese

Wyong (in the Diocese of Broken Bay) is the second highest suburb for police callouts in NSW due to domestic and family violence. And we know that 66% of domestic and family violence incidences go unreported (BOCSAR, 2020).

Can you open your heart and your home to a child in need?

A struggle that rarely makes news headlines is that of children and young people in our community who are suffering. Many have been through experiences few of us could begin to fathom and who, without our help, will go through childhood without the love and support of a family.

CatholicCare supports for those in our Diocese facing homelessness

A person is homeless when they don’t have a fixed, regular or adequate night time residence. They may be sleeping in a shelter, couch surfing, sleeping in cars or on the streets.

Supporting vulnerable children and young people through foster care

There is little dispute that most us live a privileged life. God blesses us daily and abundantly and we live in a spectacular part of the world.

Surge in domestic violence during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the world in ways we could never have imagined. There have now been nearly 5 million cases of the virus reported worldwide, and more than 325,000 deaths.

How the holiday period impacts homelessness, suicide rates and domestic violence

For many people, the holidays are a wonderful time full of family, love and cheer. However, the widespread claim is that the holidays also see a disturbing spike in suicide rates, homelessness and domestic violence.

Round table on immigration visas and domestic violence matters

Late September two of our Waitara Family Centre staff attended a round table event with Dr Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Senator for NSW to discuss and advocate for the important issues pertaining to women and children who find themselves with no visa status after suffering from domestic violence.

What are the key signs of domestic or physical abuse?

Domestic or physical abuse occurs in relationships when one partner (the perpetrator) is physically violent towards the other (the victim). Although the definition of physical abuse is widely known, a large number of victims refuse to believe or admit that they are suffering from domestic abuse.