Karinya's Clients also provide regular and positive feedback on our services. This is often in the form of a letter or card expressing their appreciation for the support, care and compassion they have received from Karinya's Staff. Following is a copy of card we received from Carole and her baby Jethro, which has been used with Carole's kind permission.
"...The support that I have found especially valuable has included; support to women during labour, ability to provide residential and outreach support, with a particular emphasis on mother crafting skills, availability of a worker 24hrs a day, practical and material assistance, advocacy and counselling. This includes such support that is difficult to access so comprehensively from other services within the community. I have also regularly experienced women identifying Karinya House as their main support network and continue to seek further support in later pregnancy's."
[Anna Stanhope, Social Worker]
"...I have worked with the staff from Karinya and have consistently been impressed by the degree of support and diligence the Karinya staff display toward the vulnerable cohort of women accessing their vital service..Liaison and collaboration occurs with Karinya staff, frequently this is to ascertain the ongoing needs and emotional well being of the women they support (often in the high risk category) who are attending the Perinatal Mental Consultation Service."
[Cathy Ringland, Perinatal Mental Health Team Leader/IMPACT Liaison Officer]
"On a practical level, they have provided my clients with transport to and from hospital appointments, which has allowed clients to not only access antenatal care, but also Social Work and Psychology Services and have been able to supply baby goods to families in need, sometimes within hours...From a psycho-social perspective, by utilizing Karinya House's services, it has meant I have had fewer Care and Protection concerns, it has meant safer, speedier discharges from hospital in both maternity and mental health settings and has ensured my clients have felt supported and more confident in their parenting capacities."
[Kate Carnall, Psychologist, Social Work and Psychology Department, Calvary Health Care, ACT]
"My specific clientele include all the women who use substances in pregnancy and those with diagnosed mental health issues. The majority of these women have limited education and come from a dysfunctional background where they have never been taught basic life-skills including shopping and cooking. They have never been nurtured or effectively parented and unless they have ongoing support are unable to provide these basic essentials for their babies... Pregnancy is a great motivator for change and with the support offered by Karinya, I've seen many women make very positive changes in their lives, which ultimately benefits their babies and breaks the cycle. They do an incredible job, offering outreach support in the form of visits, baby goods and transport to and from antenatal visits. Many of these women wouldn't access antenatal care without this practical support."
[Nola Wong RM, Women's and Baby's Health, The Canberra Hospital]
"...we have regular contact with the staff at Karinya House. Approximately 70% of our Aboriginal women have been assisted by Karinya for various services...Antenatal/Postnatal care is also shared between Winnunga and Karinya. This partnership often extends far beyond the baby's birth and has included liaising together for gynaecological care."
[Carolyn Patterson RM RN, Debbie Howroyd RN RM, Pamela Yelland, Access Worker Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Clinic/Health Service]
"We wish to acknowledge the remarkable outcomes the dedicated staff of Karinya House have brought about by helping clients with special needs. Their holistic and multifaceted support of these clients has enabled many families to successfully parent...Many of our clients have identified that the caring and safe environment that Karinya House offers makes immediate difference to their circumstances...Karinya House provides continuity of support for women through their antenatal to postnatal period. This care is provided through a flexible spectrum of services such as the supported accommodation in the refuges through to the 'outreach' support services that offers so much, including parenting education to labour support...We especially wish to recognise and honour the work that Karinya staff have undertaken with a variety of government services and agencies to develop successful partnerships. This collaborative practice appears to have resulted in improved outcomes for clients: our experience has been that clients who are involved with Karinya House are more likely to attend appointments, engage with services, and appear to be more successful in caring for their babies."
[Cassandra Tinning, Impact Coordinator, Social Worker; Penny Maher, Clinical Midwife Consultant, Postnatal/Midcall, The Canberra Hospital; Leanne Albrecht, Clinical Nurse Consultant, MACH South; Adele Clifton, Clinical Nurse Consultant, CARHU/Blue Star; Linda McDonald, IMPACT Coordinator, Registered Nurse/Midwife; Sally Billington, IMPACT Liaison, Drug and Alcohol Program; Rosie Riley, Clinical Nurse Consultant, MACH North; Sue Mander, Senior Social Worker, Maternity, The Canberra Hospital IMPACT Program, ACT Health]
"We would like to acknowledge all the hard efforts and support provided to women who are expecting a baby and who have very little one's in their care. We have often received feedback from our clients and women in the wider community who have provided positive responses about Karinya and its staff. Keep up the good work."
[Inanna Inc]
