Annie North Inc

27/10/2026

Annie North are proud to have joined the CARE Partnership with Women's Health Loddon Mallee

The CARE Partnership goal is a region free from gendered violence where communities actively champion gender equality.

As a partner, we can:
🏅champion gender equality to contribute to the prevention of violence against women in the wider region, state, and nationally.
💼 access specialist knowledge, resources and support for a more equal, safe and inclusive community
📖 have a platform to share our skills, knowledge and resources with others in the region
🙋‍♀️ contribute to regional primary prevention progress

For more information: whlm.org.au/care-partnership/

Pictured: our CEO Michelle and WHLM CEO Kellie.

22/10/2026

Need something from the chemist?
'Duck' in to Emily Roberts Pharmacy Bendigo and pop a vote in for us this month!

Every in-store purchase, whether it’s a prescription or over-the-counter item, earns a token to vote for your favourite organisation (Annie North). No minimum spend required!

🌟 Community Rewards Program! 🌟

Just like that a new month has begun! With the new month, comes new organisations.

✨ This month’s featured organisations are:
💚Lifeline Loddon Mallee
👥Annie North
🎖️Legacy Bendigo

✨About the Rewards Program✨

We’re excited to give back to our local community by supporting local charities and community clubs each month.

Each month, three local organisations will be selected to take part, with donations awarded based on customer votes:
🥇 $300
🥈 $200
🥉 $100

Every in-store purchase—whether it’s a prescription or over-the-counter item—earns a token to vote for your favourite organisation in our in-store chemical flasks. No minimum spend required!

To be eligible, organisations must:
✔️ Be a registered charity or not-for-profit
✔️ Be local to Greater Bendigo
✔️ Be able to receive funds via bank transfer
✔️ Be willing to promote the program on social media or team pages
✔️ Be available for a cheeky winner’s photo 📸

💙If you’re interested in being apart of this for the month of October or for the following months send an email through to the pharmacy at [email protected] and we can give you more details. It is first in best dressed for each month!!💙

21/10/2026

A powerful new sculpture at Sculpture by the Sea in Bondi until 2 November 2026.

Artists Philippa Lysaght and Omi McCurdie are the women behind a powerful new artwork that’s turning heads in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

13/10/2026

Victoria’s homelessness crisis has reached another breaking point.
This report shows that the system itself needs to change, and this strategy shows how this can be achieved.

Launching today, ' : Homelessness Services at Breaking Point' reveals the sheer scale of systemic overwhelm facing Victoria’s homelessness entry points.

It shows almost 70 per cent of entry point services were forced to close their doors within survey periods, due to capacity limits, staff shortages and critical incidents.

Produced by the Victorian Homelessness Network (VHN), the analysis also shows services couldn’t answer the phone for periods on almost 60 per cent of surveyed days, while emails also went unanswered on 38 per cent of service days.

CHP CEO Deborah Di Natale said these pressures reveal why we desperately need both more housing pathways and homelessness prevention efforts.

“Entry points are the front door for homelessness support, but this research shows they are simply not resourced to cope with the scale that Victoria’s homelessness crisis has reached.

“This report shows that the system itself needs to change, and a Victorian Homelessness Strategy will achieve that.”

Read more findings from the report here: https://www.vhn.org.au/smashed

06/10/2026

Narelle's* comments provide a powerful demonstration of how emotional safety was provided in refuge for herself and her children and the associated positive impacts this had.

Prior to entering refuge, Narelle* had anticipated her family would receive inappropriate care that would require her to adopt strategies to protect her family.

In stark contrast, she explains how her experience in refuge was characterised by ‘meaningful’ engagement from all staff in the organisation. These practices made her and her family feel ‘at home’ and ‘safe’ among the ‘right people’ and ‘in the right place’. Her defences were disarmed to the extent that she likened her experience to the freedom and joy of being on ‘holiday’:

*Our client's name has been changed to protect her privacy.

This feedback is extracted from research: Partnering with Victorian specialist family violence refuges to investigate practice' by La Trobe University, La Trobe Rural Health School, September 2025.

28/09/2026

Today, on International Safe Abortion Day, we're highlighting the importance of fair and equitable access to abortion care for everyone, no matter where they live.

Abortion is essential healthcare, yet people across the Loddon Mallee continue to face barriers accessing the care they need. Access to timely information, referral pathways and services can vary depending on where someone lives, creating unnecessary obstacles to healthcare and reproductive choice.

That's why we're one of 28 regional, statewide and national organisations calling on the next Victorian Government to take action to improve access to abortion care across the region.

Together, we're calling for action to:
- Strengthen the regional abortion care workforce.
- Improve regional abortion referral pathways.
- Protect, strengthen and expand the services, infrastructure and flexible models of care needed across the region.

Everyone should be able to make informed reproductive choices, confident they can access timely, affordable and appropriate care when they need it. Because where you live should never determine the healthcare options available to you.

Learn more and join us in calling for fair access wherever you live. Visit whlm.org.au/fair-access-wherever-you-live



Women's Health Loddon Mallee

15/09/2026

Read the full 2026 Victorian Election platform prepared by Safe and Equal:

Safeandequal.org.au/policy-and-advocacy/canpaigns/state-election-platform-2026/

08/09/2026

The difference between care and control matters.
We all want to feel cared for and safe in our relationships. But sometimes it can be hard to see the difference between care and control.

🤔 Does your partner insist on knowing exactly where you are at all times, or having access to all of your messages?
🤔 Do they make decisions about who you can be friends with, or what you wear?
🤔 Do they make you feel guilty for trying to say no?

These controlling behaviours are relationship ‘red flags’
They're the little things that build up and leave you feeling confused or unsure... Like you’re walking on eggshells, or maybe like you’re being ‘irrational’.

When we know how to see the signs of controlling behaviour (and what they can lead to), we can help each other recognise the difference between care and coercive control. It might be happening to you, or you might see it happening to someone you know.

The difference between care and control matters: because we all have a right to feel safe with the people we love.

Learn more about coercive control here: https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/prevention/recognise-violence/coercive-control-non-physical-Greater Bendigo Against Family Violence

04/09/2026

Annie North is a statewide not-for-profit specialist family violence service supporting women, children and young people escaping domestic and family violence through our Secure Women’s Refuge offering a crisis response; transitional housing and outreach support; and an after-hours response across the Loddon region.

Last financial year Annie North supported 103 women and 128 children and young people fleeing domestic, family and sexual violence with our Secure Women’s Refuge providing safety for ...

22 women which included
• 35% identifying as First Nations people
• 35% who are Culturally & Racially Marginalised
• 10% connected with the National Disability Insurance Scheme

27 children and young people which included
• 46% identifying as First Nations people
• 40% who are Culturally & Racially Marginalised
• 20% connected with the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Over recent months we have been delighted to welcome two new staff members to Annie North who bring qualifications and experience that allows us to add art and music therapy to the supports we offer.

Already, feedback is highlighting the benefits of these interventions during recovery as follows ...

01/09/2026

🌼 A great time to spring clean your electronics drawer/cupboard.

We would love your help!

Do you have an old or unused phone or charger sitting forgotten in the back of a drawer or cupboard?

Now is the perfect time to put it to good use!

We have been given the wonderful opportunity to become a collection point for unused devices. Donated phones are refurbished and put to use supporting people fleeing domestic violence, as well as other important community initiatives.

And there’s even more good news — the funds raised from these donated devices come back to us, helping us continue the work we do in our community.

So it really is a win-win:
✨ Clear out those unwanted phones
✨ Give them a new lease on life
✨ Help support people in need
✨ Help us continue making a difference locally

📍 Drop-off: 6 Nolan St
🗓️ Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday
⏰ 10am–3pm

All the details are on the graphic.

Please spread the word, share this post with your friends and family, and help us make this initiative a huge success!

One old phone can make a real difference.