About Us
Marymead is a community based not-for-profit organisation with a 43 year history of supporting vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families.
Today Marymead is built on the firm foundations of the past, meets the challenges of the present and will continue to change to confront future needs throughout Canberra and surrounding regions.
Marymead presently works with around 1000 vulnerable children and families each year.
Vision
To be a centre of excellence and innovation, enhancing the well-being of children, young people and families in times of need.
History
Marymead was established in 1967 by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary when the sisters identified a need for a residential care facility for children and families in temporary crisis.
After successfully lobbying Government for financial assistance, Marymead was born. The name Marymead comes from the word ‘meadow’ (or more from its archaic or poetic form ‘mead’) and the devoted and tireless Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Whilst the word ‘meadow’ conjures up visions of cool and fresh green pastures near clear and running streams, in this instance it referred to an eleven acre paddock in Narrabundah A.C.T., a pasture for sheep, transformed into the meadow of Mary, Marymead.
Marymead’s primary function was to welcome children of all races and religions who required care. The care afforded could only be temporary but it was enough to meet the aim of those who founded Mary’s meadow. Children were admitted in various times of crisis including distress following accidents or sudden illness, poverty, a mother and / or father hospitalised, a family break up, disruption of the home or child abuse or neglect. Children were either placed voluntarily by parents or referred by welfare or health officials. Occasionally the police would also bring children to Marymead at night or over the weekend if a sudden emergency arose.
The children were housed in one of six cottages each containing 5 bedrooms with a capacity for 10 children. Four bedrooms were occupied by the children with the fifth bedroom being part of the self-contained unit within the home for the ‘house mother’. A convent was also constructed on the site that included a refectory and rooms for the sisters, interviewing rooms, a chapel, kitchen and laundry. The sisters provided a range of services to local families up until their departure in 1986. After this the responsibility for Marymead was assumed by the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn as it remains today.
What we do now….
Marymead remains at its original Narrabundah site with our main focus still being children and young people. Today Marymead continues to develop and deliver programs in response to the changing needs of local families.
We remain committed to working alongside the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in our community to provide hope and positive change.
We exist to strengthen and support families, and increase life chances and choices for children and young people who have experienced the trauma of family violence, child abuse and neglect. We help these children and young people by:
- Providing care and assisting in healing;
- Working with families to enhance their wellbeing;
- Advocating for the resources, policies and programs to which they are entitled;
- Applying our knowledge and evolving to meet new challenges.
Characteristics of the families with which we work can include:
- Single parent families;
- Unemployed;
- Families impacted by some form of intellectual disability;
- Families with substance use issues;
- Families with significant breakdown, conflict and violence, exacerbated by poor and temporary housing, unemployment, poor life experiences, education and limited options.
Our Patron
Lady Helen Deane
Lady Deane, 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 Greater Good Foundation, Mercy Works Inc. and Youth Off The Streets. Lady Deane has been a long time supporter of Marymead and our Auxiliary and we are honoured to have her as our Patron.
