Liberal Member for Pittwater today joined with MoWaNa President, Melani Kypri, and Labor candidate for Pittwater Jeffrey Quinn, to celebrate the announcement of $50,000 of funding to support MoWaNa’s service of the Northern Beaches community.
MoWaNa Safe Space, which is short for ‘Mona Vale, Warriewood and Narrabeen’, is a peer led community-based service to support people who are experiencing emotional or suicidal distress. Based at the Mind Café, Narrabeen, MoWaNa operates 5 – 9pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday each week, providing a welcoming and non-clinical environment where those in need can ‘drop in’. The safe space is staffed by volunteers with lived experiences, who have received two key trainings: Living Works ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), and Roses in the Ocean Peer Care Companion Training and Gatekeeper Training.
The funding has been awarded by the NSW Government following a nomination by Labor Candidate for Pittwater, Jeffrey Quinn, during the recent election period. The funding will be used to employ a part-time volunteer coordinator and trainer to ensure the longevity of the safe space.
“The MoWaNa safe space has helped so many, there are countless stories of people whose lives have been transformed by this service. I am pleased that this funding will allow the service to continue and expand, providing more crucial assistance to vulnerable people.
“On behalf of our community, I want to thank Melani and her team for their vision and tenacity, and Guy Morel and the Mind Café for donating a space each week for this important initiative. I also applaud Jeffrey Quinn for his recognition of this wonderful organisation,” said Mr Amon.