CPS Pre-Tax Appeal

June 2009


Dear CPS Supporters

I am writing to urge you to consider a donation to the Children’s Protection Society.

I have been a long time supporter of CPS – since I was a young woman in Melbourne appalled by the conditions some children, through no fault of their own, endured.

CPS is the oldest independent child welfare organisation in Victoria and holds a unique place in the history of child protection in Victoria and Australia – pre-dating the state government’s protection services. Over the past 111 years our mission has not changed, however our strategy and innovative work practice means our place in the welfare sector is one of leadership and originality. We work with our local community, other welfare agencies and local, state and federal governments to deliver a targeted, evidence and community-based child protection program.

Let me share with you a recent CPS success story:

Young mum Sarah* was referred to CPS suffering severe post-natal depression. She was having panic attacks, suicidal notions and was self-harming. Her baby boy Ryan* was 11 months old and CPS family support services assessed him to be an anxious baby with an ambivalent attachment to his mum. He wasn’t settling to sleep, was difficult to feed and was crying much of the time. It was obvious that Ryan could sense his mother’s unhappiness which was creating fear in him.

CPS workers built a relationship with Sarah enabling her to bond with Ryan. They linked her to a young mothers’ playgroup and supported her talking with her GP about her depression. She began counseling and medication. Ryan was enrolled into child care 3 mornings a week to give him the chance to be with other adults and children and explore his environment with safety and curiosity.

Sarah has not self harmed in over 6 months and now feels more in charge of her life. She continues to participate in the young mum’s playgroup and shows affection and warmth towards Ryan, who is flourishing in her care. By meeting the needs of both mum and baby, Ryan became more settled and Sarah became more responsive to Ryan. This was the beginning of recovery and an excellent example of early intervention breaking a potential cycle of attachment disorder.

The long-term work required to address cycles of abuse and give children a hopeful start in life is the day-to-day work of CPS. We create solutions for some of Melbourne’s most disadvantaged families. We create safety for at-risk children and help their families rebuild. We need your help to continue this vital work.

Increasingly –and in line with latest research and evidence– we are focusing on the early years. We know that the first three years are the most critical time in a child’s life and a main tenet of our mission and strategy is on early intervention: early in life and early in the pathway of a problem, to ensure the best outcomes for vulnerable children. For more detail on our early intervention strategy, ask us for our latest newsletter, or read online at: www.cps.org.au.

If you can help, please do so. Your gift will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your consideration of this request and your ongoing support of the Children’s Protection Society.

Yours sincerely,


Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, A.C., D.B.E
*not their real names