City2Surf - Help raise funds for WIPAN

On 11 August, just 4 months away tens of thousands of people will run from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach for the famous 14 Km City2Surf - quite a challenge. WIPAN needs your support and donation. Women affected by the criminal justice system face many challenges in order to create change in their lives and WIPAN aims to support them every step of the way. Here is one way you can too - challenge yourself this running season by registering to run in the 2013 City2Surf and every step you take will help support woman through WIPAN in their journey towards a brighter future. Whilst you can have fun training for the big run, there is also a serious side to the event. We are aiming to fundraise $6,300 of desperately needed funds to ensure the WIPAN vehicle stays on the road for another 12 months. The WIPAN vehicle is needed to run the successful but unfunded WIPAN mentoring program. Help us reach our goal by sponsoring or becoming a WIPAN team member. So even if you do not want to do the run - you can still assist or support WIPAN by donating. Your donation is tax deductible and very much appreciated. Please click here for donations or click here to register/sign up. Then when you register choose the WIPAN team as your charity.

WIPAN's The Long Road to Freedom Project

WIPAN have just completed a very significant project - The Long Road to Freedom. Women NSW, formally the NSW Office of Women's Policy, funded this project. Amongst others, an achievement of this project was the production of a unique resource for women to break the cycle of domestic violence, victimization, homelessness, substance abuse and criminalisation. WIPAN have had an overwhelming response with many community organisations requesting hard copies of this DV resource, (a glossy magazine). The project was action and resourced based, focusing on the relationship between women's imprisonment and domestic violence. The most important feature of the Long Road to Freedom was the women most affected, directed and contributed to all aspects of the project. This is a basic and fundamental principle of WIPAN - ensuring all women with the lived experience have and share their voice - giving direction to WIPAN as an organisation. Given 80% ++ of all women incarcerated are or have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault, WIPAN realise the importance and necessity of breaking the cycles of imprisonment and domestic violence. For an electronic copy of the Long Road to Freedom DV resource click here or for hard copies of the DV resource contact WIPAN directly. A report detailing this projects rationale, methodology and research aspects was also produced, titled the Long Road to Freedom: The Report.

WIPAN - Governance and Strategic Planning - 2012 to 2015

Over the last 4 months WIPAN have been busy reviewing, updating and adopting formal and sound governance principles and procedures. As a small, not-for profit charity, it is essential that WIPAN be accountable, transparent and effective to and for the community we aim to serve. WIPAN will continue to implement and maintain an explicit governance structure, which we know is crucial in sustaining stable and predictable frameworks as an accountable non-government organisation. Part of directing WIPAN's future is the WIPAN Strategic Plan. We have just completed the consultation and deliberation, planning WIPAN's main areas of focus and service for the next 3 years. Thank you to the women, the youth, WIPAN members and staff who participated in this process. WIPAN have now ratified and adopted the strategic plan for 2012 to 2015. A significant addition to WIPAN's future focus will be the introduction of the WIPAN Youth Mentoring Program (YMP). WIPAN aim to support and mentor female youth, to reduce and prevent female youth returning to the Juvenile Justice system and/or entering the adult criminal justice system. Supporting and working with youth is a very specialised area. WIPAN have spent considerable time and effort over the past 12 months acquiring, developing and implementing the necessary guidelines, frameworks, training and procedures. WIPAN look forward to building new relationships and partnerships with the relevant youth services and stakeholders.

Vodafone - World of Difference/Paid Charity Leave program

Every year the Vodafone Foundation funds 4 applicants to do a years paid work for a charity of their choice. This happens through the Vodafone's World of Difference program. This year Kat Armstrong, the volunteer Director of WIPAN applied for this opportunity, although was unsuccessful with the application. Kat made it to the top 7 applicants, and the final four applicants chosen by Vodafone to do the paid charity leave were all outstanding and worthy of this program. On behalf of WIPAN's members, volunteers and supporters, we would like to say a very special thank you to all the people who voted for Kat via the Face book social media campaign via Vodafone. Whilst this opportunity would have greatly assisted and assured WIPAN's sustainability and future for another year, WIPAN will continue to lobby and apply to the various funding bodies etc to try and secure the much needed funding for WIPAN to continue it's successful program/s. Again WIPAN thanks you for your support throughout the Vodafone campaign.

Service of the Month - Shine for Kids

SHINE for Kids was created as the Children of Prisoners' Support Group (COPSG) following the release of The Children of Imprisoned Parents Report, commissioned by the Family and Children's Services Agency, in March 1982. In December 2004, they changed their name to SHINE for Kids.

SHINE for Kids provides advocacy and various other services for the children of imprisoned parents and their families. A core focus in providing this support is their belief in the power of early intervention to stem some of the negative effects of parental imprisonment.

These negative effects can include:

family poverty
breakdown in family relationships
children's inability to thrive in a social and educational setting
discrimination faced by children and their families due to the imprisonment of a parent.

These effects of imprisonment on children and their families can lead to a cycle of disadvantage for children and can also potentially result in children coming into contact with the criminal justice system themselves. Shine for Kids goal is to address these issues and combat this potential cycle. SHINE for Kids receives ongoing funding from the Department of Corrective Services, the Department of Community Services and others.

SHINE for Kids' head office is located in the grounds of the Silverwater Correctional Complex in Sydney. Shine for Kids has a number of Child and Family Centres offering their services to both urban and regional areas in New South Wales. They also now have an office in Victoria as they extend their services to that State.

Please support Shine for Kids at an upcoming lunch to assist them to make a difference. To be held on the 21 & 30 May 2013 at the Shine Cafe in the grounds of the Silverwater Correctional Centre. For more information re the lunches please contact the Chair of Shine for Kids - Helen Wiseman.

To contact Shine for Kids please call (02) 9714 3000 or email

Membership for WIPAN (New or Renewals)

Whilst WIPAN memberships slowly grew throughout 2012, we really need to increase our membership base this year in 2013. This will assist in raising the profile of WIPAN, and also increase our networking and partnership opportunities. If you are already a WIPAN member, please remember to renew your membership annually (this is usually June/July each year). This way you can stay on the mailing lists and be a part of the change to make NSW a more compassionate place for women and the community as a whole. If you need a reminder for your WIPAN membership, please email Helen Dewar (WIPAN's administrative assistant). To become or join WIPAN's membership please go to our website and complete the membership form.