St Kilda Gatehouse is a faith based organisation sprung from humble beginnings way back in November 1992. The St Kilda story emerged, characterised by a white van, copious cups of tea, and a commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in St Kilda.
In 1993, the St Kilda Drop-In Centre opened in Greeves Street, St Kilda, providing food, clothing, toiletries, referrals, and a safe place to rest while experiencing community, for those working and living on the streets.
In 2015, the Young Women’s Project was launched, as an early intervention initiative, supporting young women to gain insight into the sexual exploitation they experience. From insight, young women are empowered to make empowering change.
In 2017 St Kilda Gatehouse launched the Greeves St. Op Shop as a social enterprise project raising funds for our organisational operations. It quickly became a hub for the St Kilda community and another safe place for women involved in street work in the local area.
Looking to the future, St Kilda Gatehouse remains committed to creating spaces of belonging, connection and respect for those we support, who are involved in street based sex work and for young women and girls, who are experiencing sexual exploitation.
ST KILDA Drop-In Centre
The community space in Greeves Street is the primary point of contact for many who work on the streets. It provides a safe, homely environment. Assisting individuals starts with genuine engagement, building trust, providing crisis care and the opportunity to form positive and meaningful relationships.
YOUNG WOMEN's PROJECT
The Young Women’s Project was developed in response to stories and experiences shared by women in St Kilda and also the evidence-based understanding that experience of childhood trauma and abuse, family breakdown, poverty and a lack of traditional supports increases the likelihood of involvement in sexual exploitation.
GREEVES ST.
Greeves St. is the umbrella name for three social enterprise projects: The Greeves St. Sewing Project, Greeves St. Op Shop and Greeves St. Voices
The Greeves St. Op Shop offers women we support an opportunity to volunteer and work alongside members of their local community.
ARISE RESEARCH AND INNOVATION
ARISE is St Kilda Gatehouse’ most recent initiative and seeks to provide professional development focused on understanding, preventing and intervening in Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).
