It’s been a long search, but Carrie’s Place finally has a new and improved home in East Maitland.
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“Todays a day we thought would never come,” Carrie’s Place CEO Jan McDonald said. “But thanks to the efforts of our local community that support us all the time, here we are.”
The domestic violence and homelessness service moved into new headquarters in September, but held an official launch on Tuesday.
The move came as a “relief” to Ms McDonald, who said the team searched high and low to find a place suitable – one in a good position, that was safe, accessible, had space and room for growth.
The service had well and truly outgrown the worn-out office on High Street, which was converted from what used to be the refuge in the early 2000’s.
Ms McDonald said when she became the manager in 2009, there were eight workers – now there are 32.
In the past few years, teams were forced into separate buildings around the Lower Hunter and to meet with clients on the front porch of the old property.
“We really had run out of room, we were bursting at the seams at the resource centre, where we meet most of our clients,” Ms McDonald said. “We were seeing clients outside, which didn’t do much for confidentiality or sense of security.”
In 2015 Maitland man Joe Gollan reached out to the service after hearing war stories from his wife, who is a social worker, and elsewhere in the community.
He set out with Bronwyn Hodges from Mai Wel to organise a fundraiser to collect enough money to paint outside of building.
The Big Gig in September 2016 raised more than $50,000, which put Carrie’s Place on track to buying a whole new property.
Ms McDonald thanked Mr Gollan for his “tenacity and determination” and everyone in the community that had supported the service.
“Without the support on a local level we wouldn’t be here and we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” she said.
Ms Gollan said it was heartening to see the vision come to life.
“[In the old building] there was not much dignity for victims that came in, with all due respect to the workers, that’s what they had to work with,” he said. “So to see this and to see the warm and friendly setup that they’ve got now, that is going to be much more comfortable for victims, is a very proud moment, it’s fantastic.”
Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison officially opened the centre on Tuesday.
She paid tribute to the hard work of the employees at Carrie’s Place.
“I hear so many terrible stories as I go around the state about whats happened to women and sometimes I find that overwhelming,” Ms Aitchison said.
“These workers hear that day in day out.
“Although we wish we did not have to have this service here, we are so lucky that we have one that is just so passionate and committed.”
- Carrie’s Place is now located at Unit 12/116 High Street, East Maitland 2323