Upholding the dignity of each person, St Kilda Gatehouse provides a trauma-informed, holistic approach that responds to immediate needs and offers opportunities for empowered choice and community connection. We prioritise women reliant on street sex work and young people (she/they) affected by sexual exploitation

For over 30 years, St Kilda Gatehouse has worked at the frontline with some of the most marginalised members of our community. Many of the young people and women we support face significant overlapping challenges, including homelessness, addiction, poverty, family violence, mental illness, and profound social isolation. These complex realities are frequently the consequence of life trauma, requiring support that is both practical and compassionate.

Across four trauma-informed programs, St Kilda Gatehouse offers the patient, consistent, and non-judgmental presence needed for life-giving belonging and connection to flourish:

Drop In Centre (DIC): A safe place of belonging and connection, DIC meets the practical and emotional needs of those we serve. Centrally located, DIC provides centre-based services such as food, clothing, and informal counselling, as well as a Van Outreach care stream which provides welfare checks, serves those with mobility issues, and meets rough sleepers where they are at. 

Greeves Street Social Enterprise (GVST):  GVST includes a beautiful Op Shop and an educative school excursion programme. GVST provides skills development for DIC clients with our weekly craft group and Op Shop volunteering opportunities.   

Young Women’s Program: YWP exists to disrupt sexual exploitation among girls and young women aged 12-25yrs. Operating since 2015, YWP grew from unique insights generously shared by women who have endured long-term disadvantage. Offering both 1:1 trauma-informed support and a school-based group work program, YWP interventions foster empowerment and independence in young women. 

ARISE:  Our Professional Development series for social services professionals offers insight into identification and responses to Child Sexual Exploitation. The series is offered twice-yearly online, and in-person on request by groups.