|
When
a family member or friend is murdered, the emotional
and physical pain is immense. There are no words
to describe the range and depth of your feelings
and the burden can sometimes seem too much to bear.
It is understandable that you may think no one can
comprehend your suffering and it would be true to
say that no one can fully appreciate YOUR pain – it
is unique to your own experience.
However, our members are people who have been affected
by the murder of their loved one too and are therefore
able to begin to understand the devastation and sorrow
that you may be feeling.
Our members have told us that it has helped to have
the opportunity to tell their story, sometimes repeatedly,
to others who have been through it too.
The Homicide Victims’ Support Group offers
such an opportunity and also offers assistance in
the form of our many services.
Counselling
The Homicide Victims’ Support Group (Aust)
Inc. employs four fully qualified Trauma and Bereavement
Counsellors to provide a professional service for
our members. They offer individual grief counselling
in our office, or in your home if it is difficult
for you to get to us. They can arrange referral to
a counsellor in your area for those living out of
the Sydney area. You can also speak with a counsellor
over the phone at any time during office hours.
Support Meetings
Support meetings are an excellent opportunity for
you to meet others who have experienced the death
of a loved one through murder. According to a large
majority of our members, being able to sit and meet
and talk with others in a similar situation to themselves
is the most positive and helpful aspect of the group.
Our trauma and bereavement counsellors attend all
meetings (except the Ebony House Get Together’s)
and offer support and help whenever required. We
often invite interesting guest speakers to talk at
our meetings and of course, give our members a chance
to ask questions.
Meetings are held:
- In our office at 10.30am, on the second Monday
of every month,
- In Parramatta bi monthly, usually on a Wednesday at 6:30pm. Please call the office to check details of times and venue.,
- At Waterfall at 11.00am, on the third Saturday
of every month (members usually take a plate
of food to share).
Support meetings are also held in the following
areas:
- Wollongong / Kiama
- Albury
- Newcastle / Warners
Bay
- Mudgee
- Ballina / Byron Bay
- Orange
- Wagga Wagga
- Gosford
- Tamworth
- Queanbeyan
- Campbelltown
We keep our members informed of upcoming meetings
and events via our monthly newsletter. Family members
will receive a personal invitation to meetings in
their area.
Court Support
Attending court during a trial is often a stressful
time. Support is available to help you understand
the Criminal Justice System and court process. It
includes explanations of court procedures, etiquette
and legal terms.
The level of support you receive during any proceedings
will depend on your needs. Someone can be with you
in court every day if necessary, or for any part
of the trial you wish to attend.
Before the trial begins it can be helpful to become
familiar with some aspects of the courtroom, such
as the layout, who will be there, what their roles
are, where the offender sits etc.
If you are to be a witness in the trial, there will
be support provided by the Witness Assistance Service
(WAS), which is part of the Office of the Director
of Public Prosecutions.
Court support may be provided by one of our counsellors
or by one of our members who have been through the
process themselves.
We also have a booklet called “The Survivor’s
Guide to the Criminal Justice System” written
specifically for families going through the court
process.
24 Hour Support Line
1800 191 777 - Someone is available
to talk to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
During office hours, a counsellor will talk with
you and after office hours, a volunteer will be available.
Volunteers are sometimes counsellors and sometimes,
family members who have been through a similar experience
and have now trained to help others.
It is important to remember that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
Help is a phone call away, day or night.
A good rule
of thumb is, if you are considering whether you need
to call – you need to call! This is
your service – use it when you need it.
Newsletter
We publish a monthly newsletter to keep our members,
particularly those living outside the Sydney area,
informed about things happening in the group.
We include articles, items sent in by families,
meeting dates and photos and, most importantly,
anniversary
and birthday dates of your loved ones.
Contributions of letters, poems and stories are
warmly welcomed. Please contact the office if
you wish to
be put on our mailing list.
Lending Library The Group has books covering such topics as Grief
and Trauma, Family Survival, Children and Grief.
All are available for loan.
Ebony And Ivory Houses
The concept of Ebony House came about after Christine
Simpson, from her own experiences, identified the
need for some kind of ‘recovery' centre for
people affected by the murder of a loved one.
Christine's vision of this place was that it would
be in a quiet, semi-rural environment, far enough
away from the scrutiny of the public and press but
not too remote as to limit access to those in the
Sydney metropolitan area.
After meeting with Christine and Peter Simpson and
hearing about the work of the Homicide Victims' Support
Group (Aust) Inc, Premier Bob Carr gave the group
the use of two cottages in the grounds of Garrawarra
at no cost.
After much hard work from members and friends Mr.
Bob Carr, Premier of NSW, officially opened Ebony
House on 8th December 1995. The house was named in
memory of Ebony Simpson.
The purpose of Ebony House is to give people affected
by homicide a place to go when they feel overwhelmed
with everyday life.
There are two cottages where families or individuals
can stay, the second named Ivory House. There, in
beautiful and safe surroundings, families have the
opportunity to spend some quiet time alone or with
each other.
For many people experiencing the trauma of the death
of a loved one through homicide, there is sometimes
a need to get away from everyday things - from all
the well-meaning people who phone and drop in, from
the media and from all the reminders of the loved
one in their homes. It is for these reasons that
Ebony and Ivory Houses were created.
Some people like to be alone at this time and this
can also be arranged. One of the cottages will be
made available to you and you need have no contact
with anyone unless you wish to do so.
Support meetings are held regularly at Ebony House.
This is an opportunity for families and friends of
homicide victims to get together and provide care
and support for each other. The day is casual and
relaxed and everyone is made welcome. Please contact
the office for more information about these meetings.
Accommodation for families at Ebony House is totally
free of charge. Families from NSW, interstate and
overseas who come to Sydney for court cases or just
for a break away, also use the houses.
Ebony House is not only a tribute to Ebony Simpson
but also a memorial to all murder victims. It is
also proof that grief and anger can be channelled
into positive energy with astounding results.
Back to top?
|
