ELIZABETH HOFFMAN HOUSE

Elizabeth Hoffman House is a refuge with the primary function of providing emergency shelter for Aboriginal women and their children in need of care due to domestic violence. We provide a supportive accommodation service that is sympathetic to the needs of the users of the services. In addition, Elizabeth Hoffman House provides crisis accommodation to Aboriginal women and children who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
An Outreach Support Service is provided to Aboriginal women in metropolitan Melbourne that assist Aboriginal women to access support services in the areas of family violence and related issues.

Elizabeth Hoffman House also conducts Community Education workshops with Aboriginal communities throughout the State.

Elizabeth Hoffman House is a community-controlled organisation operated by an elected Committee of Management.

Elizabeth Hoffman House believes that Aboriginal people have the right to self-determination and self-management as well as the right and responsibility of community control. Central to this belief is Elizabeth Hoffman House's commitment to practices, principles and polices that encourage, support or facilitate community autonomy and development.

Elizabeth Hoffman House believes that each community is the best able to identify its own needs and subsequently to develop, monitor and evaluate programs that address those stated needs.

Elizabeth Hoffman House is managed by a management Committee who are elected at the Annual General Meeting by women from the Aboriginal community. Office Bearers are also elected at this meeting.

The role of the Management Committee is to oversee the management of the organisation including services delivery, staff issues, financial issues and to ensure that the service is meeting all the requirements outlined in it's service and funding agreement. The management Committee is the policy making body and the Manager is responsible for the implementation of policy making and the day to day management of the service. All decisions in relation to service delivery and staffing are communicated by the manager to the staff, although Committee members have regular formal and informal contact with all staff.

 

History of Elizabeth Hoffman House

The Elizabeth Hoffman House (EHH) women's refuge has been operating since the early 70's. Auntie Elizabeth Hoffman and Auntie Joyce Johnson (deceased) battled for a refuge for Aboriginal women specific in Victoria.

Aboriginal women would go to the Aborigines Advancement League and ask for help when in need of crisis accommodation. Auntie Joyce and Auntie Liz had women coming to their own homes looking for help and understanding.

They felt that the community could best identify the needs of their people and could help their people in a culturally appropriate way.

In 1984, Elizabeth Hoffman House became Incorporated and independent of the Aborigines Advancement League.

Read the article 'Women Seek Refuge' published in The Herald , Page 26, Wed Nov. 14, 1979 on the efforts of Auntie Elizabeth Hoffman and Auntie Joyce Johnson.

 

Management Structure

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