Community Programs

The Carrie’s Place team offer a variety of groupwork programs in the community.

We are proud to deliver specialised support, education and training sessions in partnership with a range of community organisations.

Our programs include workshops that increase awareness of the impacts of domestic violence and homelessness and further develop skills, knowledge and self-confidence to overcome barriers to maintaining healthy relationships and independence.

Inner Strengths

This group explores the impacts and dynamics of domestic and family violence and healthy relationships to identify and gain strength and increase awareness. Topics include;

• Healthy and unhealthy relationships
• Types of domestic violence
• Myths and community beliefs
• Effects of domestic violence on children
• Effects of domestic violence on our mental health
• Also incorporates the Shark Cage concept

Shark Cage ®

This group uses a feminist and human rights framework that recognises a consequence of the gender inequality in society is that some men abuse their power and violate the rights of women and girls. The metaphor of a shark cage is used to recognise the difference between Sharks who violate human rights and Dolphins who respects and support your boundaries and rights. This group is about empowering individuals to create a life that puts human rights at the centre.

Circle of Security ®

This program is designed for parents and carers of children aged 0-12 years who want to strengthen the bonds with their children and would like support to help their children to build secure relationships.

This program assumes all caregivers want what is best for their children and builds caregiver awareness and skills in developing relationship capacity rather than learning techniques to manage behaviour.

Seasons for Growth ®

The Seasons for Growth adult program builds resilience and promotes the social and emotional wellbeing of adults as they adapt to change, loss and grief in their lives. Domestic and family violence and homelessness have emotional impacts that do not heal when the danger or crisis is resolved. This program explores the personal impacts of change, loss and grief whilst developing skills in communication, decision- making and problem-solving, helping to restore self-confidence.

Love Bites – Respectful Relationship Program for Young People

Carrie’s Place delivers the Love Bites programs in high schools across the Hunter Valley in partnership with a range of youth, community, and government agency representatives.

Love Bites aims to provide young people with a safe environment to examine, discuss and explore respectful relationships. Love Bites takes a strength-based approach and views young people as active participants who are able to make choices for themselves and their relationships when supported with information and opportunity for skill development.

Empower Me

Empower Me is a job readiness program for survivors of domestic and family violence delivered in partnership with Path2Change and funded by Women NSW within the Department of Communities and Justice.

Empower Me is a practical program that supports women to prepare for employment as well as build skills and knowledge around personal and employment financial aspects, setting goals and increasing wellbeing and confidence.

Get in touch on (02) 4934 3585 or [email protected] for more information.