Women across the New England region will continue to have access to trauma-informed recovery and support services following ongoing funding from the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network (PHN) to The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia.
The funding will support a further 12 months of the Foundation’s Art Recovery Therapy (A.R.T.) Program, allowing continued delivery across regional communities where access to specialised mental health and domestic and family violence services can be limited.
Over the past 12 months, the A.R.T. Program has delivered five rounds in Tenterfield and Glen Innes, supporting 28 women affected by domestic, family and sexual violence.
The program combines weekly group art therapy sessions with individual counselling provided by a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse. It offers a safe and supportive environment where women can express emotions, build social connections and strengthen resilience as part of their recovery.
Developed by Becky Jackson with support from the Foundation’s Mental Health and Wellbeing team, the program was designed to provide a model of care tailored to the needs of women recovering from trauma.
Participants have consistently described the program as empowering and transformative, reporting increased confidence, improved wellbeing and a renewed sense of strength.
“The art program provided us women a safe place to learn, create and move forward,” one participant said.
“The art program helped me to understand that I’m not alone and the DV journey is with us for a lifetime, and through the art I was able to plan out my future with strength,” another participant shared.
The program’s outcomes were recently presented at the Hunter New England Healing Symposium in Newcastle, highlighting the importance of accessible, community-based recovery programs in regional areas.
The Healthy Communities Foundation Australia chief executive officer Richard Cheney said the funding extension would ensure women could continue to access vital support close to home.
“Programs like A.R.T. provide safe, accessible and trauma-informed support for women who may otherwise face significant barriers to care in regional communities,” Cheney said.
“This investment from the Hunter New England and Central Coast PHN enables us to continue creating opportunities for healing, connection and long-term resilience for women across our region.”
The A.R.T. Program is free for eligible women across the Hunter New England region.
For more information, visit www.thcfa.org.au or email art@thcfa.org.au.
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