June 18, 2020

Quantum Support Services receives “Keep Safe Quilts” for the Women and Children’s Refuge

Quantum Support Services was delighted to receive handmade quilts from Keep Safe Quilts to give to women and children escaping family violence.

A total of 13 handmade quilts were donated by members of Keep Safe Quilts, a Melbourne based group who make quilts to donate to domestic violence refuges across Victoria. The quilts will be distributed  to the women who are accommodated in Quantum’s Family Violence refuge, “Pat’s Place”.

The philosophy behind the program is to show victim survivors love and care. The initiative was first started in 2015 by Jackie Gillies who states on the website www.keepsafequilts.com that she “established the group after feeling devastated and helpless about a story of two women being killed in shockingly brutal circumstances at the hands of the men who were supposed to love them”.  Jackie felt compelled to “do something as a quilter that she knew would bring comfort, quilt making”.

Jackie put out a call to her quilting community on Instagram and Facebook for help to sew quilt blocks to make a quilt to donate with the hashtag #quiltblockstohealviolence. Instead of receiving enough blocks to make one quilt, she received 650 blocks, enough to make 50 quilts, not just from Australia but from around the world.

Michele Wyers a member of Keep Safe Quilts says “Every quilt is made with love, there is nothing better than being wrapped in a quilt made by someone who cares about what the survivor is going through”.

Carolyn Richards – Stream Manager Family Violence from Quantum Support Services stated “They are beautifully made and the sentiment behind each one is so valuable and important to the women and children we support”.

Quantum’s women’s refuge “Pat’s Place” staff provide a short-term specialised case management response to women and their children requiring crisis accommodation as a direct response to risk and safety due to family violence.

Quantum offers support including an outreach service to assist with information, advice and referrals for women, with or without children, experiencing family violence in the Baw Baw, Latrobe and Wellington areas.

If you are in immediate danger call 000. For further information about our services call 1800 243 455