Divine benevolence
ON THE FAR south-west reaches of Sydney lies a suburb of children. Just over 50 per cent of the people living in Claymore are under the age of 12, but chronic poverty in the area means many of the parents can’t afford to give these youngsters the advantages in life they’d want their child to have. Dance classes, sport, and even being able to drive to a local park are all pastimes that are out of reach to some in Claymore, and as a result young children are often wandering the streets.
The Benevolent Society’s mentoring program for seven- and eight-year-old girls is changing that by equipping them with the con dence, skills and leadership to help them foster their self-worth.
Benevolent Society team leader Jenny Tilocca says the iMatter program oversees the girls’ growth, self-worth and self-con dence, and aims to give them a voice.
The iMatter initiative started in 2017 and will run until the girls reach high school, providing them with support every step of the way. Jenny says at rst the girls took a little while to come out of their shells and “mesh together”, but that has changed.
“They’ve come together amazingly as a family,” she says. “They’re very connected and they’re starting to feel very valued.”
The program includes weekly activities during school terms and school holiday excursions.
One Claymore mother says she feels a lot more connected to her daughter as a result of iMatter. “She’s made a lot of friends, she’s very social now.”
The Benevolent Society has been helping Australians for more than 206 years, rst beginning its work in 1813. Focusing on people in need, it was the
rst organisation to introduce district nursing in rural Australia and the rst to establish a home for people with mental health issues.
The Society’s reach goes far further than welfare. Trained workers provide disability support for families and young people, to ensure they get the
best out of life. They help people like Matthew, who was born with an intellectual disability.
“Matthew is quite non-verbal. He relies on people to communicate,” says Gail, Matthew’s case worker.
He also needs someone on hand to help him navigate daily life. He has a special relationship with his mother, Shelagh. They support each other, Gail says. But they’ve bene ted from the expertise of people like Gail, who help them navigate the challenges of daily life. “Gail’s help makes me feel con dent I can deal with some of the issues on my own because sometimes I lack con dence,” Shelagh says. “I don’t believe in myself a lot of the time and Gail makes me see that I can do these things.”
“I love it,” Gail says. “There’s nothing better than seeing someone come in, and you’ve met their goals.”
For more on The Benevolent Society, go to benevolent.org.au