Anglicare WA helps Young Hearts with Christmas appeal

Children who have experienced family and domestic violence will be the direct beneficiaries of Anglicare WA’s 2023 Christmas appeal.

The Anglicare WA Christmas Appeal is once again raising funds for its child counselling services, as demand for the services continues to grow.

All donations made to Anglicare WA will go to Young Hearts, an important service that supports families, including children and parents, to heal the damage caused by family and domestic violence (FDV) and to help break the cycle.

The service offers trauma-informed support to children and young people aged from five to 18 through counselling, specialist parenting support and ways to help clients better understand the causes of psychological distress.

Young Hearts, which has been operating for almost 10 years, was designed to fill a gap in response to growing rates of children experiencing family and domestic violence in Western Australia. Unfortunately, the need for this service continues to grow each year as FDV continues to rise.

Since July 2021, Young Hearts has supported 1132 clients in WA, including more than 600 children under the age of 17.

"In the 21/22 financial year, on average 15 women per day were hospitalised due to FDV in Australia. Yet nearly 42 per cent of Australians think that a lot of what is called family and domestic violence is really just a normal reaction to day-to-day stress and frustration. It is not OK," Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson said.

This year alone, more than 50 women in Australia have lost their lives at the hands of a former or current intimate partner.

Researchers estimate that more than 1 million Australian children experience FDV and this can severely impact their development, behaviours, wellbeing and relationships.

Through an emotive ‘Letters to Santa’ campaign, Anglicare WA has highlighted the devastating impact of family and domestic violence on children.

“Christmas should be a magical time for children, yet many are faced with daily turmoil of living in confronting, violent and volatile situations within their own homes,” Anglicare WA General Manager Philanthropy Bec Stott said.

“This year, Anglicare WA’s Christmas appeal highlights the harsh reality for many young West Australians who experience devastating family and domestic violence.”

Despite its expansion to keep up with the need, Young Hearts has been operating at capacity for many years, reflected in the growing demand for these services.

“Young Hearts has evolved to become one of the leading services in our state, helping children to understand their experiences, express their emotions and heal from the trauma caused by family and domestic violence," Ms Stott said.

Anglicare WA hopes to attract more donations to be able to help more children through the devastating effects of family and domestic violence.

“Philanthropic support is vital to the reach of Anglicare WA’s important work and the number of people we are able to provide assistance to,” she added.

“Money raised through our Christmas appeal will go directly to Young Hearts, which helps families to break the cycle of domestic violence.

“Through the generosity of individual donors, corporate partners, charitable trusts and the broader community, Anglicare WA is able to provide crucial family and domestic violence programs, mental health support and homelessness assistance, among others.”

Last financial year, philanthropic support drew in $5.4 million for Anglicare WA services and programs, which enabled the charity to support 598 young people experiencing homelessness and provided 10,000 children with a safe space to work through their feelings and problems.

It also covered $140,520 in rental payments and arrears to help more than 50 families keep a roof over their heads.

Anglicare WA urges those in a position to help raise vital funds to support Anglicare WA’s Christmas appeal here.