About Us
The Providence Foundation is an Australian non-profit organisation providing support to women faced with unplanned pregnancies, and those dealing with Post-Abortion Syndrome.
We understand that many women face a difficult choice regarding their pregnancies and have little or no information to help them.
The AMA has reported that terminations present 'very significant dangers to women', and there are many studies of both the severe physical and psychological side effects. Yet most women are very uninformed of these outcomes, especially of Post-Abortion Syndrome, which is the cause of untold cases of severe depression, anxiety, and even suicide.
We are not trying to be pro-life or pro-choice, or take sides in a political debate that for 40 years has done nothing more productive than cause abuse from both sides; we will help the women no matter what they choose.
However, we would like to see a change in the culture of this issue. We want to see better options and alternatives made available, with support and care for those who choose to keep their baby and for those who choose to adopt their baby, and for all to be more educated about this important issue. To this end, we are providing balanced information to enable women to make an informed, unpressured choice.
This is being achieved through:
• Provision of support services such as housing, access to counselling
services, support networks, etc.
• Education - providing information around pregnancy choices and a
greater awareness of the options regarding adoption.
• Raising awareness within schools and other community groups.
Housing
We are currently progressing towards full charity status and are looking at potential sites for a Providence House in Melbourne and one in country Victoria. These houses will be safe houses where women can go if they are facing an unplanned pregnancy and need accommodation. We aim to provide them with basic antenatal care, life skills including cooking, cleaning, budgetting, and skills for early parenthood.
Education
We aim to provide a comprehensive education workshop being taken into schools, which is aimed at 3 different age groups from Grade 5 through to Year 10. This workshop provides age relevant activities to stimulate awareness of some of the issues young people may face if pregnant, and includes information on support services and outcomes of risk-taking behaviours.
Counselling
Along with education and information we are providing compassionate care and support to women who have gone through an abortion for whatever reason, without any form of judgment. We are showing the same mercy, compassion and care all humans hope we receive no matter what decisions or choices we all face in life.
Research shows psychologists and counsellors are seeing more and more cases of post abortion syndrome, depression and suicide. And with abortion rates skyrocketing, we believe someone needs to provide balanced information to these pregnant girls/women. Not just to help and support them in making an informed choice, but also to provide counselling and support after an abortion.
We also aim to set up a national, and eventually an international network of highly recommended counsellors who will be able to professionally assist women who have had an abortion and are already battling Post-Abortion Syndrome. We have produced a comprehensive manual for counsellors to assist them in dealing with the issues faced, and are working with a number of organisations, who are able to provide many varied forms of pregnancy and counselling assistance.
Resources and Media
We have produced an easy to read “Are you Pregnant?” booklet, which informs women about the choices available to them in a simple, easy to read and understand format. It is also helping to raise awareness of “Post Abortion Syndrome”, which is silently sending far too many women into severe depression and suicide. There is a large interest in communities and governments worldwide to help us distribute these booklets, as they are fact-based, enabling a fully informed choice to be made.
We have also commissioned a number of multi-media developments, which are available to help both raise awareness via distribution to young people, as well as be used as a fundraising tool to help us continue this work.
We are developing a number of visual media to help get the message out; with music video clips that will help reach the young, and also some educational DVDs that we can use in the school program.
If you would like assistance, or need to speak to someone further please contact us and we will put you in touch with a counsellor in your area.
Because everyone is significant
For immediate assistance dealing with depression please call
Beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or Lifeline on 131 114
