Ruah Community Services

Bunuru is almost here—‘Second Summer’ is on its way! ☀️🌾 Last year, we had the privilege of creating this series about the six Noongar Seasons, with Whadjuk Noongar Elder, Aunty Viv Hansen. Thank you to Aunty Viv for your generosity in sharing cultural knowledge with us all. We can’t wait to share this series with you throughout the year. Stay tuned & keep your eye out for the seasonal changes of Bunuru!☀️🔥

At Ruah, we believe every child and young person deserves to feel safe, no matter their background or circumstances. We’re thrilled to announce that Ruah has achieved formal accreditation against the Safeguarding Children Standards through the Australian Childhood Foundation as of December 2024. 🎉 This accreditation reflects our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. It provides reassurance to our clients, parents, caregivers, and the wider community that safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do. Through our dedicated team, systems and thoughtful processes, we prioritise the wellbeing of children and young people in every decision we make. 💙 

January 26th is a Day of Mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, not a celebration. For many, this date represents the beginning of profound loss—of land, lives, and culture. Marking the beginning of the Frontier Wars in 1788. While 'Australia Day' as we know it has only been a national holiday since 1994, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long marked January 26th as a Day of Mourning, with the first protest taking place back in 1938. On 26 January, Ruah acknowledges the pain of this history and stand firmly in solidarity with the world's oldest surviving cultures. Together, let’s continue to reflect, listen, and work toward a future grounded in truth, justice, and respect. 🖤💛❤️ #alwayswasalwayswillbe

We’re excited to announce our partnership with Living Proud to deliver specialised Family, Domestic, and Sexual Violence (FDSV) support for LGBTIQA+SB communities in WA. 🌈💜 Our Executive Manager, Carmen Acosta, shared: “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Living Proud on this essential initiative. LGBTIQA+ communities deserve support that is inclusive, safe, and responsive to their needs. By working together, we can ensure frontline workers are equipped to deliver care that truly makes a difference.” This marks an important step toward creating safer, more supportive spaces for everyone. Read more: https://bit.ly/livingproud

From all of us at Ruah, we wish you a safe and joyful holiday season. 💙 Please note our adjusted operating hours for some services during this time > https://lnkd.in/gknH4Nwh

Our hearts are full this week! 💙 We’re so proud to share the recognition of our team’s dedication and advocacy:  🏆 Awarded Best Practice in LGBTIQIA+ Inclusion at the 2024 IPAA Achievement Awards.  🏆 A Certificate of Recognition for our Geraldton team, nominated as a Volunteer-Involving Organisation of the Year for our partnership with Short, Back & Sidewalks. These achievements are a testament to the passion and dedication of our team, volunteers, and partners. Thank you for inspiring us to continue making a difference!  

Thank you, Synergy (Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation), for your ongoing support. Your partnership makes a meaningful difference to the work we do 💙

🌟And that’s a wrap for #16DaysInWA 2024! Today, on Human Rights Day, we mark the conclusion of the 16 Days in WA campaign. Over the past 16 days, we’ve shared how we contribute to changing the behaviours and attitudes that lead to violence against women and children. 📢 Campaign Highlights: 🧩 Our Perth and Geraldton teams participating in the March Against Domestic and Family Violence. 🧩 Our CEO, Debra, participating as a guest at the Speaker Series hosted by the Department of the Premier and Cabinet of WA. 🧩 Our team presenting our “What’s Your Piece?” campaign to corporate audiences, fostering conversations and education around family and domestic violence. Thank you RTRFM 92.1 , MacKillop Family Services, Synergy (Electricity Generation and Retail Corporation) , Frontier Software and the Public Transport Authority for welcoming us into your spaces to highlight the piece you are playing in ending family and domestic violence. Let’s continue this important work beyond these 16 days — together, we can drive lasting change. #16daysinwa #16DaysOfActivism #stoptheviolence

What’s Your Piece in Ending Family and Domestic Violence in the workplace? The incredible Bronwyn from Mettle Women Inc. shares practical ways workplaces can support staff experiencing family and domestic violence. From recruitment and retention to workplace safety training and policies, there are actionable steps every employer can take. These are just some of the pieces of the puzzle. Whether as individuals, employers, or organisations at large, we all have a role to play in ending family and domestic violence in our communities. Let’s work together to create safer, more supportive spaces for everyone, and a future free from violence.  

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐕𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞? Brooke Blurton highlights the importance of creating culturally safe and informed services for young people:  "In order to thrive and live better quality lives, it’s a responsibility of our services to create these places and spaces for young people."  At Ruah, we’re committed to this responsibility through initiatives like our Deadly Learning Strategy, cultural awareness and trauma-informed training, and by listening to the voices of young people through the Ruah Youth Advocacy Collective (RYAC). Creating safe spaces is just one piece of the puzzle. As Brooke says, it’s crucial to ensure our young people feel safe and empowered to ask for help, and able to access the support they need to thrive. Let’s work together to build a brighter future where every young person has the opportunities to meet their full potential.