Our Aboriginal Safe at Home Team

Meet Tamara Humes and Shydelle Wareham, two case workers in our Aboriginal Safe at Home program (ASAH) as a part of our wider Family and Domestic Violence team.

As a proud partner with Starick in running the Aboriginal Safe At Home program, it provides culturally safe support to yorgas and koolangka experiencing family domestic violence (FDV) , by allowing them to stay in their homes when safe, or to return home following their stay.

For Shydelle, it was a gap and the ability to help people that aligned with her passion.

” The passion I have to help our community, and empower the children and the woman due to trauma and the journey they faced- that drew me to Wungening”

Both Shydelle and Tamara are proud Noongar Yorgas, and for them the end goal is to see clients break a cycle, keep families together and heal through trauma, something that is increasing within community through FDV outreach programs like ASAH.

” It’s always about walking beside them. They are the lead decision makers, and we are just their to guide them and ensure they make the right decisions. Everything is in their hands, they know what works best for them.”

The program is run on the premise that clients know how to stay safe – and may only need help planning and having the right equipment to make that happen. This can include a boost to home security with alarms and sensor lights, adding locks to doors and windows, or adding padlocks to mailboxes, service boxes and gates.

” Everything we do is to aid their safety, so we will maybe support people in getting a VRO (Violence restraining order), transport to appointments, referrals to other agencies, advocacy to the Department of housing and looking at how we can maximise their safety in their current home. “

The program has had a lot of success.

” I recently got recognised in a court of family law, for the support and consistency with my client. Providing cultural awareness support, encouragement and utilising the values of what Wungening have, all played a part.  She sustained safety and security, she’s achieved her goals through healing and closing her case with the department of child safety. This brought so much joy to our team and to me.”

” I had a high intensity client, supported her in getting a VRO. We also went all out with maximum security as her perpetrator was very extreme. She actually has a testimonial on the website about how well we supported her, and being able to support her and empower her through her journey gave me so much joy.

Working for the program has had a positive outlook on both of their lives and for both yorgas, it’s clear it’s a role that not only is a job, but a passion and fulfilled livelihood.

“My favourite part about working here is seeing those clients achieve those goals they have set. I try to provide positivity through what their experiencing. The most joyful part is having a successful story for a client that has been enduring FDV. For them to overcome that, and for us to be alongside of that for that journey to success is amazing. It’s helping break a cycle and I feel privileged to have been able to walk alongside them for that”

” It makes me feel moorditj, dardy, blessed, overwhelmed and just knowing something that I did for someone has made a change. “