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Marymead Child and Family Centre is a local
community-based child and family service. We work to preserve
and support families, and care for children and young people
who can't be at home.
Marymead has grown up as part of the local community for
40 years, serving Canberra through Canberra's support.
Established in 1967, Marymead is a not-for-profit community
welfare service, located in Narrabundah, ACT. Marymead operates
under the auspices of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra
and Goulburn.
Origins:
Marymead was established by the Franciscan Missionaries of
Mary. Initially the Sisters undertook family support in the
community. Out of this they saw a need for a temporary care
option for children and families in crisis. They successfully
lobbied government for financial assistance to establish a
facility, which consisted of 6 cottages for up to 10 children,
a community pre-school, convent and chapel. The Sisters provided
a range of services to Canberra families up until their departure
in 1986. After this the responsibility for Marymead was assumed
by the Archdiocese, with a community-based Board overseeing
the agency's operations.
Marymead continues to develop and deliver programs in response
to the changing needs of local families. Many are recognised
as "leading practice" and have been disseminated
Australia-wide.
Activities:
Each year Marymead supports approximately 800 children and
families in various ways:
- Assisting parents in the care of their children and themselves
through family skills and relationship courses;
- Preventing family breakdown by providing family support,
intensive therapeutic intervention, respite and crisis care
for children and young people;
- Providing caring, stable and responsible foster and residential
care for children who cannot live with their family of origin;
- Recognising the special needs of and providing support
to families with a family member who has a disability ;
- Supporting separated families and children who require
a safe and understanding environment for contact and changeover
arrangements.
Staffing:
Professional: 155 (95 FTE)
Volunteers: Approximately 140 (including
105 foster care/host families)
Publications:
- Parenting Between Cultures (2000)
- Lifetime's Worth of Caring (2001)
- Fathering After Separation (2001)
- Quality Respite: Thinking Outside the Square (2002)
Recent Awards:
- 2003 Catholic Welfare Australian Award for Excellence
of Service (Organisation)
- 2002 Prime Minister's Award for Excellence in Community
Business Partnerships
- 2001 National Child Abuse Prevention Award, Outstanding
Achievement, Valuing Cultural Diversity
Download brochure PDF 132kb (Requires Adobe Reader)
Our Patron
Lady Helen Deane
Lady Helen, wife of former Governor-General and High Court Justice, Sir William Deane, practised as a solicitor with Freehill Hollingdale and Page following her graduation in law at Sydney University. Lady Deane is also the Patron of the GreaterGood foundation, Mercy Works Inc. and a Patron of Youth Off the Streets. Lady Helen has been a long supporter of Marymead and our Auxiliary and we are honoured to have her as our Patron.
View Our TV Commercial - Thanks to Win Television!
(Available on our Media page)
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