Community champion helped shelter DV victims during Covid

A single mother of six who has helped meet a spike in demand for DV services has been nominated to go in the draw for a luxury stay at Crown Sydney.

She’s a single mother of six but Robyn still managed to log extra hours of unpaid work during the Covid-19 pandemic to help meet a spike in demand for domestic violence services.

Calls to police and hotlines by domestic violence victims increased during the pandemic and refuges such as the Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter were inundated as more and more women fled terrifying home situations.

Robyn has taken care of numerous women escaping domestic violence, as well as being a single parent to six children. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We were open right through the Covid pandemic and had lots of women in crisis who came into our care,” said Robyn, who did not wish to reveal her surname because of the sensitivity of her work.

“There was increased pressure on all our services because domestic violence went through the roof as did mental health concerns.”

Due to the increased demand Robyn volunteered extra hours at the shelter, picking up night shifts so she could look after her children during the day.

“I’m a single mother of six kids so it was a little bit of a juggle there with my younger kids at home studying,” Robyn said.

“I still went to work every day in lockdown because we are an essential service.”

The former lawyer began volunteering at the shelter three years ago and said it was how her clients “respond to the support the shelter offers” that inspired her to go to work every day.

“It’s meaningful work and a chance to make a difference in someone’s life,” she said. “It’s a privilege to go to work every day.”

Be one of the first to take in views of Sydney from Crown Sydney’s SkyDeck. Picture: Jane Dempster.

Robyn has been nominated as a community champion and is in the running to win one of 50 luxury stays for two at Crown Sydney and become one of the first people to make use of the hotel’s SkyDeck which opens to the public on July 1.

To nominate someone who deserves go to dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/competitions or use the form below.

Entries close June 20, 2021 with stays to be taken between June 27 and July 6.

View the full Terms and Conditions here.