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Indigenous services

Loreto Sisters are involved in providing and advocating for services for Indigenous communities, in many cases working directly with women, youth and families. Through Mary Ward International Australia, the Loreto Sisters provide funding for education, employment and community development programs.

“I will do these things with love and freedom.” 

Mary Ward

Strong Young MumsStrong Young Mums - Centacare Wilcannia Forbes


Through Mary Ward International Australia (MWIA), Loreto funds the Strong Young Mums program which supports teenage mothers to engage with employment and educational opportunities, and to increase their confidence as parents. The women attend playgroups, information sessions, have access to referral services and take part in TAFE and other courses developed specifically for them. 

Loreto in the Alice

Helen and the Arrernte peopleHelen Parer

Helen Parer ibvm has been working with the Arrernte people of Alice Springs for 16 years. Helen works in Alice Springs in the remote Aboriginal Communities of Santa Teresa and TiTree - to assist with the retail course being offered to young people by Charles Darwin University.

"Merle Wenegke - Nwerre Ingwenthe"
(Lighthouse - A Beacon of Hope) Project
This project provides support accommodation for the Arrernte women of Central Australia to access educational opportunities. In cooperation with local people, professionals and volunteers, Helen offers support, mainly for women which includes:

  • short term courses in drug and alcohol education, self-esteem, health and hygiene, parenting, art, the Law and You, Town Library activities, use of internet, IT

  • access to health and financial services

  • outreach to women in crisis

  • fitness and recreational activities

  • spirituality today.

 

"Many had been sitting at home with nothing to do. Coming to the spirituality centre with art to create and people to talk to had done much to lift their spirits."

Susan Daily ibvm

 

Susan Daily ibvm volunteers in Santa Teresa, near Alice Springs, assisting Indigenous women and young people express their emotions and creativity through silk art, a project sponsored by Catholic Religious Australia, Queensland. A recent count estimated almost 600 silk paintings on scarves, stoles and sarongs created by grandmothers, daughters and children working together and inspiring each other. Here she shares her experiences:

Susan Daily ibvm with artistAnother year has gone so fast! It has been a very different year for me. I have spent most of 2010 in the desert around Alice Springs— a mass of green and flowers on rich red earth because of the sudden rain we had. I spent two hours on a rough unsealed road out to Alice Springs to a place called Santa Teresa. 

The camera worked full time—the raw Australian outback was so beautiful! I worked there with some wonderful aboriginal women—they are very talented. All I had to do was supply materials and technique and they produced the most wonderful artwork.

I was amazed at the beauty of their silk designs. They were very different to what I had seen produced in other places. It was wonderful to see the women proudly selling their unique silks to tourists. They were full of pride when the bishop wore a stole they had made at the celebration of Mary McKillop, our first Australian saint. The walls of the church are covered with artwork telling the story of creation. It was very obvious from the photos I took that my time there had brought much happiness into their lives, many had been sitting at home with nothing to do. Coming to the spirituality centre with art to create and people to talk to had done much to lift their spirits.

I was sad to leave, however it is important to go so they can continue to be independent. I will go back every so often with a few more ideas, more encouragement and products to share from art shops. Next year I am off to Daly River and Balgo to work on similar projects. I enjoy this work but I do miss creating my own art, so hopefully I will get to do a bit more between my trips in 2011.

Sixty-five women have participated in the project and following Susan’s departure, another 12 women have joined the program. Two sales of 150 and 25 scarves have been made.

At the top right of our website you will find a "hide" button. Click on this and take a moment to reflect with Susan Daily's beautiful environmental photography.
 

Photos from top:

Strong Young Mums
Helen Parer ibvm
Susan Daily ibvm with artist, Santa Teresa

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