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Walking Beside Mothers

Catherine House is committed to walking alongside women in all stages and forms of motherhood.
We begin with the woman—her survival, her healing, her future.

Text below by Deirdre Flynn, Manager of Client Services at Catherine House

Over the last week, I have been involved in out-of-hours support with three clients who are all mothers.
As I write this, it’s hours after checking in on a client who needed support in the early hours of the morning. She said two things to me that speak to the heart of what we do: “I have my babies” and “I think I am just feeling overwhelmed, I’m not used to having so many people care for me.” She had been compassionately supported by two SA Ambulance Officers, other clients in the house, the worker on duty, and later, by other staff checking in on her to ensure she was okay.

Another client voiced that she was reminding herself of her teenage daughter and how important it was for her to repair from their estrangement. She hoped this would help her in moments when her choices moved her further away from reunification. Later, I was listening deeply to how important it was for another client, a grandmother, to be able to visit her family for a milestone event, and be well enough to support her adult son, who was struggling in life and needed her.

Not one of these stories is unremarkable. They each represent our work with women and the indirect impacts on their children. Their parenting role is the heart of their motivation to move forward. They each face complex barriers that existed long before they came to our service. At times, the intense need to bury the pain and grief, which offers momentary respite, results in a relapse in their goals, and continues a cycle of feeling shame, being unworthy, then rebuilding again.

Mothers we work with may have experienced family and domestic violence as children and in adult life. Many had partners who undermined their parenting role, alienating them from their children. Escaping the violence resulted in financial vulnerability, with insecure or no housing. Many report being coerced to act in ways that resulted in contact with the justice system, with some experiencing incarceration. Over time, poverty, or a decline in their physical and mental health, weakens their capacity to fight for themselves, their children and what they need. Feeling abandoned or uncared for, with no safe support networks, periods of hopelessness can pervade. 

We use the time that women are in our service in a very intentional way to support her role as a mother, in whatever form that may be. Our work with children begins with the mother. Our first priority is her safety, rest and recovery, while attending to urgent health and income needs. Restoration of dignity and self-worth is part of every interaction.

We apply Social Role Valorisation theory to affirm the value of women who have been marginalised. Homelessness and domestic and family violence often strip women of valued social roles. Through active validation and valuing, we celebrate women’s inherent worth, promoting their contributions as mothers, carers, educators, leaders, and family and community members.

We support women’s parenting role in whatever form that takes. Children can stay in our single living accommodation for a night, weekend or other visiting periods. We assist with parenting skills, safe boundaries, and reconnection with children. Additional support is provided for pregnant women, including housing, baby essentials, and advocacy. We prioritise safety in all child-related interactions, building awareness of safety planning around women’s interactions with partners and other people involved in the child’s life.

We support women to be future-focused, even when it seems impossible, by affirming their strength and confidence, encouraging knowledge development and critical thinking skills, supporting their engagement in learning, and providing pathways to education and employment. Always aiming for long-term success and stability.

We actively reduce barriers, building partnerships to support women with rent, living costs, household goods, and access to pro bono medical, dental, optical, and legal services. We provide practical and financial assistance for family-related needs, walking alongside women through complex systems, mediation, and legal appointments, liaising and advocating alongside them.

Every woman’s experience of motherhood is unique. Our case work includes individually tailored goal setting around parenting, referrals to programs and courses, support with routines and appointments, mental health support to enable stability and readiness for child contact, trauma counselling for grief and separation from children, and connection with essential services while with us and when they move into their new housing or community.

Supporting women as they reclaim their identity as mothers is woven into our daily practice—quiet, powerful work that honours their strength and story. Shining a light on the children who reside in the hearts of the women we support is an important reminder of the impact of our work with families who are hurting or trying to heal. Homelessness makes it so much harder.

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The Diversity of Motherhood

• Education
• Mental Health

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