The 2021 – 2022 year has been very successful and provided many outcomes for families and individuals across the spectrum of our services.
Those Services include;
Child Sexual Assault Therapeutic Service (CSATS)
Public Tenancy Support Service
Financial Counselling and Emergency Relief Service
Gascoyne Women’s Refuge
Family and Domestic Violence Mobile Outreach Service
Sobering Up Centre
Men’s Anger Management Program
Protective Behaviours Persona Safety Program.
February of this year saw a changing of the guard. It was with great pleasure that I commenced as the new Managing Director for a period of 2 years and as I write this article, I find it hard to believe that one of those two years is almost behind me.
Whilst attached to the Police Station in 2006 -2014 I was the Chair of the organisation formerly known as Carnarvon Family Support Service. With this experience it has made the transition a little easier however I have been on a very steep learning curve as chairing and running this organisation has proved to be very different!
During the year, like most agencies COVID was an issue however it was managed across our services particularly well and whilst most government requirements are no longer in place, we continue to test clients prior to entry at the Gascoyne Women’s Refuge and the Sobering Up Centre.
All services have operated well across the year and all services have retained their funding allowing CFSS WA to continue to provide options and solutions to the ever-changing needs of our clients.
One of our major achievements this year was the development and introduction of the new Protective Behaviours Referral Program which has also helped the professional working relationships with key stakeholders, in particular Carnarvon Community College, The Department of Communities and The WA Police Force.
During Child Protection CFSS WA hosted a morning tea event to officially launch the program which was a great platform to bring awareness of child abuse and neglect and to showcase the great work the organisation achieves throughout the year. This event experienced a sell out and all those who attended the event received free copies of the parent and children’s personal safety handbooks.
Looking Forward in 2023
Going forward we will continue our endeavours in sourcing funding to provide a youth hostel here in Carnarvon and also on our wish list is funding to build 3-4 transitional houses at the rear of the refuge to create real opportunities for women and children to break the cycle of violence and provide a transition from violence to safety.
In closing I wish to acknowledge the board who are imperative to the success of CFSS WA and who without them none of our achievements would be possible. I would also like to thank all the staff attached to CFSS WA LTD. Our staff are hardworking, dedicated and passionate human beings who strive every day to achieve what we set out to do and that is to
Strengthen and Support Families!
To our partners, key stakeholders and community of Carnarvon I wish you a safe Christmas and I look forward to working with you and alongside you all in 2023.
Andrea Musulin – Managing Director
Please note CFSS WA will be on Christmas Shutdown from 22/12/2022 – 3/01/2023. The Gascoyne Women’s Refuge and the Carnarvon Sobering Up Centre will operate as usual during this period
