Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) is delighted to announce that Founder Member of the Great Lakes Women’s Shelter (GLWS), Felicity Carter, was recognised on Monday 14th June 2021 as part of the Queen’s Birthday Honours list. Felicity joins fellow WCS staff members – Director of Education and Special Projects Dannielle Miller who also received an OAM this year and CEO, Annabelle Daniel OAM and inaugural Chair of The Sanctuary – The Hills Women’s Shelter, Yvonne Keane AM, who received medals in the last two years.
As a founder Board Member and Secretary of Great Lakes Women’s Shelter, Felicity Carter has been instrumental in the establishment and ongoing success of GLWS, including help raising vital funding towards a new shelter property, due to open later this year.
As WCS Director of Education and Special Projects, Dannielle Miller has created and delivered an innovative early intervention and prevention education program, Walk the Talk. Walk the Talk is a pioneering program that builds high school students’ awareness of domestic violence and homelessness. The Program is delivered in schools across Sydney in the form of onsite workshops where students learn and discuss positive relationships and build student action to support their local shelter. Dannielle has also created and launched a WCS corporate domestic violence training program for the workplace leaders of Australia, which she is delivering nationally in 2021.
CEO of Women’s Community Shelters, Annabelle Daniel OAM, said the awards were wonderful recognition of Ms Miller’s and Ms Carter’s achievements.
“I am delighted Dannielle and Felicity have been recognised for their hard work advocating for women and youth. Dannielle has used her voice for others for years, as an author, educator, media commentator, columnist, education officer and single mum and as a founding Board Member of GLWS, Felicity has worked tirelessly advocating for women and children in the Forster-Tuncurry area. Both women are such deserving recipients, and I am incredibly proud of them,” said Annabelle.
In 2020, the WCS network provided vital services to 433 women and children and 19,811 additional ‘bed nights’ to the sector. GLWS provided services to 61 women and children and 4,159 bed nights. The Walk the Talk Program engaged approximately 3,200 high school students – an increase of 28% on the initial pilot program in 2019.
WCS is currently working with two local communities to expand its shelter network and increase the number of bed nights available to women and children in need.
