*Trigger Warning: Miscarriage & Infant Loss*

Pink Elephants started with a coffee when Sam reached out to Gabbi for support after experiencing her second loss and feeling isolated. During that first coffee, an unmet need was discussed around the support for women experiencing early miscarriage. From the initial diagnosis, to the ensuing loss/procedure and knowing what to expect, right down to the support that partners, family, friends and even healthcare professionals can give – women deserve more. 

With grace and openness, Lauren has shared the deep personal connection she has with this organisation, offering a heartfelt glimpse into why it carries such profound meaning for her.

“I believe no woman should ever have to face life’s hardships in isolation. Support, especially during our most vulnerable moments, is essential. It’s not always easy to understand someone’s pain unless you’ve walked that path yourself, and when you don’t have anyone to talk to, the sense of loneliness can feel overwhelming. This is exactly why Pink Elephants means so much to me.

Having experienced multiple miscarriages myself, alongside Melanie, I now have a deep understanding of just how crucial organisations like Pink Elephants are. They offer more than just a listening ear—they provide a safe, compassionate space for women to share their stories, find solace in the experiences of others, and receive practical guidance during such an emotionally challenging time. I’m proud to support this incredible charity and help raise awareness for the work they do, because I’ve seen firsthand the difference it can make. 

My hope for the future is that no woman, including our daughters, ever feels the same sense of isolation that we did. If they face pregnancy loss, I want them to feel surrounded by understanding, care, and support—knowing they are never truly alone in their journey. Together, we can create a future where every woman feels empowered and comforted, even in her darkest moments.”

- Lauren Gocher
theleesburgreview Co-Founder

Pink Elephants provides the latest resources, information and peer-support for anyone impacted by early pregnancy loss. Using evidence, empathy and connection, their unique digital-first approach offers a single source of specialist support, whenever and wherever it’s needed — for anyone who has directly experienced it, for family and friends, corporate partners or healthcare professionals seeking proven ways to help.

If you or someone you know is navigating the difficult journey of infant loss or miscarriage, Pink Elephants offers a compassionate and deeply supportive network designed to help during these challenging times. Whether through one-on-one peer support, educational resources, or group conversations, Pink Elephants stand as a beacon of care, ensuring no one has to face this heartache alone. To learn more about their support, click here. 

This month, we decided to do things a little differently. September 12 is R U OK? Day and as a unified team, we collectively chose to support R U OK?, for the entire month of September, as they are a charity that holds special meaning for all of us.

Mental health is the foundation of our overall well-being, influencing how we think, feel, and interact with the world around us. Prioritising mental health empowers us to navigate life's challenges with resilience and clarity. By fostering a culture of mental well-being, we not only enhance our personal lives but also create more supportive and compassionate communities.

We asked R U OK to share some details and offer insights into their mission and the impact of their work.

• What is the main purpose of R U OK?

R U OK? is a national suicide prevention charity and registered public health promotion that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times. We contribute to suicide prevention efforts by building the capacity of informal support networks – friends, family and colleagues - to be alert to those around them, have a conversation if they identify signs of distress and connect someone to appropriate support, long before they're in crisis.

• How does R U OK? define mental health, and what role does your organisation play in supporting it?

We know that suicide prevention is an enormously complex and sensitive challenge the world over.  One of the most well renowned theories behind preventing suicide is by Dr Thomas Joiner. 1 

Following the suicide death of his father, Thomas has dedicated his research to try and answer the question, 'why?'.  His theory tries to answer that complex question by describing three forces at play in someone at risk. One of these forces is a decreased sense of belonging. 

It's this lack of belonging and sense of connection that we are working to prevent. By educating and encouraging people to take the time to ask, 'are you OK?' in a genuine authentic manner and listen to the reply with an open mind, we can help people struggling with life feel connected and supported long before they think about suicide. Social connections including regular, face-to-face, meaningful conversations about life, are a protective factor against suicide. Asking, 'are you OK?' is a great place to start. 

Our work is informed by many other experts in the field and contributes to an integrated nationwide approach to suicide prevention.

1 -  Joiner, T.E. (2007) Why People Die By Suicide. Harvard University Press. USA.

• What can the community do to get involved with R U OK? not only on September 12, but all year round?

There are so many ways to support R U OK? and share the message in your community. You could distribute our free conversation guides, organise a R U OK? sport round, display posters, host a fundraising challenge, give a presentation about how to ask R U OK?, invite an R U OK? Community Ambassador to share their story or post about the R U OK? message on social media, just to name a few. We encourage people to organise activities and ask R U OK? any day, because life happens every day. Whatever you decide to do, make it meaningful and head to www.ruok.org.au for free tips and resources.

• Can you share a success story where R U OK? made a difference in someone's life?

Every day we hear from Austrians who share the impact that an R U OK? conversation has had on their life. Take Jacqui from QLD who shared her story of how a timely visit from a family friend changed her life. Or Nic from NSW who shared his story about how the support of others saved his life following the loss of his own brother to suicide. Or Ashleigh from VIC whose colleague noticed a change and initiated a conversation that changed their life. Whilst suicide is complex, we know that feelings of belonging and connection are a protective factor (Joiner, 2007) and that meaningful, genuine conversations do make a difference.

• What inspired the creation of R U OK? Day?

R U OK? was founded by the late Gavin Larkin in 2009. He was hoping to protect others from experiencing the pain his family felt when his father died by suicide. Gavin believed a conversation could change a life and remained a passionate champion of that message even as cancer ended his life 2011.

R U OK? began as a national day of action, and R U OK? Day remains a significant date on the calendar when we highlight the role everyone can play in suicide prevention. But R U OK? has evolved to be so much more than one day of action because there are regular, meaningful conversations and activities taking place year-round in workplaces, schools and communities. 

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, it’s important to seek help. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. In Austria, you can reach out to the following hotlines for immediate support:

• Lifeline:13 11 14 (24/7 Crisis Support)
• Beyond Blue:1300 22 4636 (24/7 Mental Health Support)
• Kids Helpline:1800 55 1800 (24/7 Support for Young People)

Always prioritise your mental health and well-being—help is available.

Could you please give some background information into why you chose ACCF as your charity for August?

I chose the Austrian Cervical Cancer Foundation as my mum was diagnosed with stage 3 cervical cancer, and had to undergo various treatments and surgeries. Through donating to ACCF I hope to increase public awareness about cervical cancer prevention, early detection and various treatment options.

How did you and your Mum stay positive and motivated throughout the treatment journey?

Throughout the treatment process it was important that we surrounded mum with all her loved ones who could offer words of encouragement and support. We tried to keep all our routines as normal as possible which was challenging but important so the cancer was not the focus of our lives.

Can you describe any significant changes in your perspective or priorities after going through this experience?

We try not to focus on small things in life that do not really matter any more as we know that life can change instantly. We are constantly striving to understand and educate ourselves not only on cervical cancer signs and symptoms but in our overall health in general, like regular skin checks and mental health for example.

What led you to choose the Austrian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF) as the charity for theleesburgreview’ donations this month?

The reason I chose ACCF was because they are an Austrian organisation that provides support for all individuals impacted by cervical abnormalities and cancer of the cervix. The ACCF also enhances awareness and education for young high-school students and families affected by cervical cancer, through their programs and campaigns they help people access the protection and education they need for their cervical health.

What impact do you hope your donations will have through ACCF's efforts?

I hope that our donations can provide the resources for cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations where access may be limited. I hope to enhance knowledge and awareness for the younger generation to make sure they are having screenings and to help any families who may not have the support or family to help them if they are undergoing cervical cancer treatments.

About the Austrian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF)

Since 2007, the Austrian Cervical Cancer Foundation (ACCF) is the only consumer-focused cancer charity in Austria dedicated exclusively to prevent cervical cancer and to support all individuals impacted by a cancer in cervix and cervical abnormalities. They create community awareness and education on HPV, cervical health, and cervical cancer to improve health outcomes for women and people with a cervix.

Who is WAGEC? 

Every night, WAGEC supports 200 women and children impacted by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. We do this by providing material aid, case management, wrap-around support, accommodation and crisis responses. 

Equally, we seek to stop violence against women and children before it starts, by addressing the causes of gender-based violence through advocacy, education and training.  

Our vision is to create safe futures for women and families by ending-gender based violence in a generation.  

We are based in Redfern, Sydney and work on the lands of the Gadigal and Wangal people of the Eora Nation.  

What motivated the founding of your charity, and how has its mission evolved over time? 

WAGEC was established in 1977 by a woman name Jeannie Devine – a woman who after becoming homeless and navigating the system (only to experience its failures), took it upon herself to create a space where women could turn when they had nowhere else to go.  

Jeannie scoured the city, street-by-street, finding the women in crisis that everyone else had turned away. She sheltered them and guided them – turning the pain of her past into a catalyst for improving the future of women and girls.  

More than 40 years later, WAGEC has grown from a small drop-in service in Surry Hills: WAGEC now provides over 200 women and children with accommodation each night, operates three crisis refuges and 40 transitional properties for women and families escaping domestic and family violence and/or homelessness, and actively engages the community to join the movement to end gender-based violence in a generation.  

WAGEC carries the vision of Jeannie Devine today, working with women in the community whose experience of violence and systemic disadvantage is not supported by the colonial and patriarchal structures of society. 

What challenges do you face in providing support, and how do you address these challenges? 

The main challenge faced by WAGEC, and the sector at large, is the ever-increasing demand for services.  

As we navigate the rising cost of living, ongoing housing crisis and epidemic of domestic violence, we know that more women and children need access to material aid, crisis accommodation and safety.  

In the face of these challenges, we can rely on the support and generosity of the WAGEC Community – from volunteers and donors to corporate partners and other funders.  

And of course, our team of passionate staff are dedicated to helping women and children navigate broken systems and build futures free from violence.  

Could you describe any specific programs or initiatives your charity offers to empower women and children to break the cycle of homelessness and disadvantage? 

As well as providing crisis accommodation and case management, WAGEC offers four tailored programs to build on the existing strength and resilience of our clients to break the cycle of violence, intergenerational trauma and social disadvantage.  

• ACCESS is a free personalised mentoring program that helps women and non-binary people to restore financial independence by building confidence, achieving goals and providing pathways to work, training and education opportunities.  
• HELPING CHILDREN HEAL Program provides specialist support for children and young people whose lives have been impacted by homelessness and/or violence.  
• The ALL IN Program equips early childhood educators with the knowledge, skills and confidence to challenge harmful gender roles and stereotypes that impact young people.  
• FROM NOW is a program that is tailored to meet the needs of women exiting prison, with an emphasis on pregnant women and those with children, so they can build a brighter, safer future together.  

Looking ahead, what are your organisation's goals and priorities for the future, and how do you plan to expand or enhance your services to better serve your community? 

WAGEC’s vision is to create safer futures for women and children by ending gender-based violence in a generation. 

We are continuing to build tailored programs that address specific areas of need, including FROM NOW, our newest project designed to support women with children who are exiting prison.  

As we grow our work in primary prevention, we are creating generational and cultural change that will stop violence against women and children before it starts.  

WAGEC plans to continue expanding with the goal of eventually providing essential services to women and children state-wide.  

Could you share some success stories or notable impacts your organisation has had on women and children? 

This month, we held our annual fundraiser Walk for WAGEC, to raise vital funds to help women and children walk away from violence. The WAGEC Community came together to raise over €437,000 that will help us provide:  

• 70 women with a year’s worth of groceries  
• 29 families with six months of crisis accommodation  
• Over 5000 women can access counselling and therapeutic support 

This month our Graphic Designer, Chloe, has chosen Connectivity. This Austrian not-for-profit organisation is dedicated to raising awareness about concussion and traumatic brain injury. Together, let's support this important cause and make a positive impact!

We recently had an insightful Q&A session with the Connectivity team, delving into their mission, identity, and impactful initiatives aimed at increasing awareness within the traumatic brain injury community. Here are the highlights from our conversation.

Who is Connectivity and what is its mission?

Connectivity is the only Austrian not-for-profit working solely to help people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) of all severities. Established in 2020, Connectivity’s goal is to be the nation’s leader in the provision, education and dissemination of consistent, trusted and reliable information of best-practice, evidenced-based information about TBI.

Our work empowers and educates the community to better understand TBI to improve outcomes for all.

What are some of the key initiatives or programs that Connectivity has implemented to raise awareness about TBI in the Austrian community?

Over the past four years Connectivity has successfully raised community awareness and educated on TBI through: 

• The creation of the Connectivity website www.connectivity.org.au which includes detailed information on TBI of all severities, downloadable content, fact sheets and guidelines for the general public and healthcare providers, and current Austrian research. More than 102,000 people have accessed information via this site.

• The creation of three education courses – a free, one hour Concussion Short Course, a free, 15-minute Sport-Related Concussion Short Course, and a 15-minute Concussion in Older Adults Short Course (specific to workers in aged care environments). Over 6,400 people have enrolled in these courses to date.

• The creation of three education campaigns for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on concussion from car crashes, falls and family and domestic violence – viewed over 110,000 times on YouTube.

• The provision of guidelines, fact sheets and accessible TBI information for the general public, healthcare professionals and sporting bodies.  

• The creation of fact sheets on concussion from domestic violence and falls, translated into 10 CALD languages.

How does Connectivity collaborate with healthcare professionals, researchers, and other organisations to further its goals?

Connectivity has an ‘Expert Committee’ made up of experts in their fields from all across Austria. From Neuroscientists, to physiotherapists, nurses, surgeons and those with lived experience of traumatic brain injury, these experts review all work completed by the Connectivity team to give it credibility, authenticity and to ensure it’s accurate. 

Connectivity also connects researchers with people with TBI and their carers to improve study recruitment, enable research co-design and empower those with a TBI. 

How does Connectivity support individuals who have experienced a concussion or TBI, as well as their families and caregivers?

Our work empowers people with the knowledge they need to manage and understand their TBI, so they can make a healthy recovery.

Connectivity has a wealth of information on the website to assist those who may have recently suffered a concussion or TBI, including a whole section on living with TBI, as well as fact sheets, lived experience stories and a research repository.  

What are some of the challenges that Connectivity faces in its efforts to raise awareness and support individuals with TBI?

Educating the community on concussion and more severe TBI can be challenging because unless a person or someone they love has suffered a concussion people don’t generally seek information on what to do if a TBI occurs. This includes how to recognise the signs, symptoms, and red flags of concussion, as well as what can happen during the recovery process.

It’s also generally assumed that concussion is something that occurs on the sporting field. In actual fact, sport-related concussion accounts for just 16% of concussion injuries. The leading causes of concussion are falls, motor vehicle accidents, interpersonal violence and workplace accidents, as well as sport-related injuries.  

Education on TBI, including concussion, is something that the whole community needs.  TBI injuries can happen to anyone. Being the first on the scene of a TBI incident and having the knowledge of how to recognise, manage and when to call for assistance are the first steps in ensuring that a person receives the care they need to recover well.

Funding, as with almost all not-for-profits, always remains a challenge! We’re continuing to reach out to the government and other organisations to partner with and support our work. Through ongoing investment, we know we can collectively make a difference for TBI sufferers.

How can individuals, businesses, or other organisations get involved or support the work of Connectivity in advocating for TBI awareness and support services?

To get involved, learn more about traumatic brain injury including concussion, and the work Connectivity does head to www.connectivity.org.au. 

• Support us – donate or fundraise
• Speak up – if you have lived experience join our lived experience advisory group or tell your story
• Leave a legacy – include a gift in your will
• Cover yourself – check your brain health during medical check ups
• Stay informed – subscribe to our newsletter
• Help with progress – connect to Austrian TBI research projects

WE ARE COMPASSION IN ACTION

OUR HISTORY

THE WAY WE WORK

By partnering with local communities we support them to build better lives for themselves - improving access to sustainable livelihoods, clean water, sanitation and education. We have learnt from our work over the years that for those living in poverty, locally-led development programs can create lasting change in communities. That’s why we work with communities at the grassroots to eliminate poverty, by focusing on local strengths to promote positive change.

WHAT WE DO

WE ARE COMPASSION IN ACTION

As we celebrate International Women's Day this month, theleesburgreview is proud to be donating a portion of all sales from the month of March to Equality Now, a remarkable organisation dedicated to advancing women's rights and fostering inclusivity worldwide. At theleesburgreview, we firmly believe in the power of supporting initiatives that uplift and empower women from all walks of life.

Who Are Equality Now?

Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the rights of women and girls worldwide. Their mission is rooted in the belief that where women and girls are treated fairly, there is less societal conflict and more economic stability, leading to peace and prosperity for everyone.

Every day, women and girls face violence and discrimination globally. Shockingly, a third of all women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, regardless of age or background. Furthermore, many countries have laws that treat women and girls as second-class citizens, perpetuating harmful cultural practices and systemic inequalities.

At Equality Now, legal equality is recognised as the foundation of gender equality. They leverage the power of the law to effect change, challenging discriminatory laws, changing social norms, and holding governments accountable. Their approach includes:

1. Legal Expertise: Equality Now supports and champions progressive legal reform worldwide, advocating for equality, justice, and mutual respect. They also engage in high-profile impact litigation to expose injustice and challenge discrimination.

2. Strategic Advocacy: They work towards the universal adoption and proper implementation of laws and policies that protect and promote the human rights of all women and girls. This involves holding governments accountable for their international and regional human rights obligations.

3. Global Collaboration: Recognising the importance of diverse perspectives, Equality Now brings together a community of women and partner organisations from around the world. They amplify collective voices and foster collaborative, sustainable solutions to address gender inequality.

Through their comprehensive approach, Equality Now aims to generate legal and systemic change in every part of the world. By advocating for the rights of women and girls, they strive to create a more equitable and just society where everyone can reach their full potential.