Grace’s Place, a safe, healing place for children affected by homicide, was officially opened on Monday, November 14 by Federal Dobell MP and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride.
It is a world-first recovery centre where children from all across NSW will receive wraparound care and support, all free of charge.
Grace’s Place will also be home to the Homicide Victims Support Group with counselling and therapeutic programs for children and their families who have lost loved ones to homicide.
McBride said it was a place for restoration where vulnerable young people would learn to work through the trauma of losing a loved one in the most devastating circumstances.
Grace’s Place is named in honour of the late Grace Lynch, mother of nurse Anita Cobby, who was murdered in 1986.
Grace and her husband Garry Lynch were relentless campaigners for victims’ families, providing tireless, caring support to many families of homicide in the years following their daughter’s tragic death.
In 1993 they became founding members of the Homicide Victims Support Group, along with Christine and Peter Simpson, the parents of murdered schoolgirl Ebony Simpson.
“It is fitting that this wonderful facility is named in Grace’s honour,” McBride said.
“I also acknowledge Garry and Grace’s daughter and Homicide Victims Support Group Ambassador, Kathryn Szyszka, who has carried on their valuable work,” she said.
Grace’s Place will be managed by the Homicide Victims Support Group and become the organisation’s head office.
It will provide information and training to the public, health professionals, police and professional bodies about the needs of family members affected by homicide, as well as providing assistance to schools and hospitals.
The facility will open its doors early next year to provide accommodation, counselling and support for up to 12 children and their carers from across NSW and elsewhere in Australia.
It was constructed in Sydney’s west at Doonside with a combined $9.4M from the Commonwealth and NSW Government.
Sue Murray