If you need help now, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or 000 in an emergency.
At first Andy and Sarah , 4 year old twins, were confused and frightened when they came to stay with us. They found it hard to settle and sleep that first night and kept asking “when is the Dad going to leave? Why is he still here?
Andy and Sarah only knew “the Dad” to be violent and something to be avoided. To them you didn’t go to sleep until you knew “he” was gone and out of the house. No amount of assurances seemed to make a difference but eventually through sheer exhaustion they managed to drift off to sleep. The next night sleep came a little easier but in the morning we noticed someone had been sick in the bathroom.
When asked who was sick during the night Sarah and Andy were silent. Telling them they were not in trouble didn’t make a difference. However, explaining we wanted to help them if they were sick triggered a flurry of questions. Sarah and Andy wanted to know Why would we want to know who was sick and Why would we want to help them if they were sick. They could not understand our interest at all.
Sarah and Andy had little trust in adults, in their short lives they had not known much kindness or experienced care or help when they were sick, hungry or cold. Fending for themselves, avoiding “the Dad” and storing food in their room was their only concern.
With a faraway look in her eye Sarah would sometimes say “Maybe my mum will come home when she gets fixed up at the hospital … but only if it’s safe” .
We learned being safe meant so much to these little ones.
We learned women and kids had a better chance of staying together if they had support and a place to stay where they could feel safe. Andy and Sarah helped inspire us to do something to help women and children of domestic violence, it’s why we created Our Safe Place.
Break the silence and be courageous in speaking against domestic violence.
Even the smallest gift goes a long way in helping fund safe places for women and children escaping violence.
Point anyone who needs support to 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, or open your home to a child through an accredited foster care agency.
Our Safe Place doesn’t work with families directly. We raise money and grant it to established organisations already doing this work, then report back on where it went.
We raise funds through public donations, partner contributions and fundraising campaigns.
Funds are granted to established domestic violence shelters and support services: the specialists with the expertise and relationships already in place.
As grants are made, we report on where funds went and what they helped achieve.
Need help now?
If you need help now, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or 000 in an emergency. You can also text 0458 737 732. Young people can call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
Our Safe Place is an initiative of LAHAT Foundation Ltd, the registered charity raising and granting funds behind Our Safe Place and School Kids.
Contact
LAHAT Foundation Ltd · ABN 74 670 634 312 · Registered Australian Charity · © 2026 · Powered by FocusNet Technology
