House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Question Time Catherine House Incorporated CATHERINE HOUSE INCORPORATED Ms THOMPSON House of Assembly Reynell CATHERINE HOUSE INCORPORATED Ms THOMPSON (Reynell) (14:19): My question is to the Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education. Can the minister inform the house of the innovative pilot program that was recently delivered at Catherine House Incorporated, with the support of TAFE SA? The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly Playford Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education CATHERINE HOUSE INCORPORATED The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Employment, Training and Further Education) (14:19): I thank the member for Reynell for her question, particularly as yesterday, as we all know, was International Women's Day. As members would be all too well aware, there are many reasons why any South Australian may find themself affected by homelessness. Fortunately, there are many excellent agencies that help people in times of need. I am thinking in particular of the Hutt Street Centre and the Salvation Army, just to name two. The Hon. M.J. Atkinson House of Assembly The Hon. M.J. Atkinson: St Vincent de Paul. The Hon. J.J. SNELLING House of Assembly The Hon. J.J. SNELLING: St Vincent de Paul. Thank you, member for Croydon. They are well-known and strongly supported by many honourable members. Another is Catherine House. Catherine House is the only agency in South Australia that provides supported accommodation for women over 21 years of age who are affected by homelessness for reasons other than domestic violence. Established in 1988 by the Sisters of Mercy, Catherine House has 15 houses, one emergency house and 14 transitional houses in the inner city of Adelaide, providing lodging for up to 47 people each night. From a grant from the commonwealth government's Homeless Innovation Fund, Catherine House and TAFE SA formed a partnership to run a Certificate II in Women's Education. The course was delivered internally at Catherine House's education centre, Sagarmatha, and externally at TAFE campuses. Clients of Catherine House come from many different backgrounds, many facing challenges including mental illness, drug and alcohol dependency, gambling and relationship and family breakdown. For these vulnerable members of our community, the chance to be in a structured, formal education course in the safety and security of Catherine House is paramount to the program's success. For many of these women, studying in a place where they were comfortable, at Sagarmatha, helped bridge the gap between the negative experiences they have had in the past and realising the potential they have for the future. I would like to share a quick story about someone who found herself in need of help from Catherine House, a story that will give you an idea of the value of such a program. To protect her privacy I will call her 'Jane'. Jane went to Catherine House in 2009. She was homeless after many years of family unrest and was extremely traumatised by the situation in which she found herself. She was depressed, unable to look after her own wellbeing and, ultimately, not participating in society. The worst thing for her was it meant that she was separated from her two teenage children. She had never before been apart from them, something many of us would find very difficult to imagine. While at Catherine House I am told it took Jane some time before she was confident enough to engage with anyone apart from a quick, 'Good morning' to staff as she headed outside to sit in the garden for long periods. I can only imagine the turmoil that she was going through at the time. Each day the staff would encourage Jane to venture out to the education centre. Eventually she found the confidence to join a class. This was really her first step, the beginning of something. She did not miss a class for the next 18 months. In mid-2009 Jane moved from Catherine House into a boarding house in the outer suburbs, which was another step towards independence, and made the one-hour journey each day to Sagarmatha. These were the beginnings of a new-found belief in herself. She began to view herself differently, she discovered an interest in many subjects, an appetite for learning and a new determination and dedication to education and self-improvement. The opportunity of studying for a TAFE certificate was very daunting for Jane. She left school when she was in year 10. She had not studied for about 25 years. The innovative delivery model, the partnership between the two organisations enabling the course to be delivered at Catherine House, was a major factor in her decision to take the risk. Courageously, Jane signed up for the entire course in women's studies. During the course Jane confronted and dealt with many personal challenges. She credits the focus of her studies with keeping her anchored and the structure and support surrounding the study gave her the determination and strength to keep going. Jane successfully completed all nine modules and attained her Certificate II in Women's Education in December last year. Through this experience Jane not only found respect and appreciation for education, but a new-found respect and appreciation for herself. She has now reunited with her children who are, rightly, incredibly proud of their mother and for the first time in four years the family is living in secure, stable housing in a brand-new home, thanks to the Affordable Housing initiative. Encouraged by her experience at Catherine House, Jane has now enrolled in a Certificate III in Women's Education. She has the desire and confidence to look for stable employment. I am pleased to report that nine women from the 2010 program will be joined by four others who will continue their education at TAFE SA this year. Catherine House has also now been successful in winning a Foundation Skills grant through the adult community education initiative managed by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology. They will be continuing their great work, helping these women to break the cycle of unemployment, to discover how bright their future can be. These women, TAFE and Catherine House are to be congratulated on their success.