Our History

Wellsprings for Women Inc.

Our History

Wellsprings for Women Inc. is auspiced by the Presentation Sisters, Victoria.

From the 1980’s the Sisters were engaged in pastoral ministries in Dandenong and surrounding Catholic Parishes. This long and broad experience led to a particular concern for those women who were becoming more and more isolated within an apparently lively community.

During 1995 research was undertaken into the causes of this situation and into the agencies and groups which were attempting to respond to the emerging needs. Some of the causes identified were – marriage breakdown, domestic violence, mental illness, unemployment and underemployment which led to dependence on social security. The enormous changes in migration patterns in Australia are reflected in a dramatic way in the multicultural nature of the local community and, in turn, the Wellsprings community.

In response to this reality, and after consultation with the many services which were being offered by the public and community sectors, it was decided to set up Wellsprings as a place which attempts to meet the need not already being met by the existing agencies.

In 1995 Wellsprings opened one day per week as a Drop-in Centre offering a friendly environment for women to meet in a non-threatening, homely venue. As the number of women attending the Centre grew, a holistic program was developed addressing the physical, emotional, spiritual, recreational, educational and skill based needs of the women. These programs were offered to encourage and empower women to grow in self esteem and learn about the wide variety of opportunities available to them in the Community.

The large number of Refugee and Asylum Seeker families who have moved into the Dandenong area call for new and creative responses to a wide variety of needs, and the centre is providing programs to meet these needs.

From that beginning the Programs have gradually increased to the point where the centre is open 5 days a week and caters for approximately 300 women weekly. Wellsprings has fully qualified staff and a large number of well-trained volunteers.

Staff of Wellsprings