Mode of operation & goals

Advice, guidance and support

A small multi-professional team consisting of a psychosocial counselor, a psychologist and lawyers supports the women in developing and strengthening their inner security and stability. Regular further training, supervision and participation in network meetings and conferences of the staff contribute to quality assurance.

Consultations and accompaniment are accessible to women free of charge and are confidential. The women decide to do this voluntarily and out of their own motivation.

The social work in the women’s shelter ranges from securing livelihoods, support for integration (work, housing), help in filling out forms and applications, accompaniment to offices and authorities to building a helping network and much more. In addition, the Pinzgau Women’s Shelter provides referrals to other qualified institutions.

The psychosocial consultations and accompaniment are based on the strengths and abilities of each individual woman. Building on their individual resources, they develop their own strategies for coping with the violence they have experienced and possible prospects for the future.

Legal counseling includes information on the options available under the Violence Protection Act (police prohibition of entry and approach, restraining orders) as well as on separation, divorce, temporary separate housing, alimony for women and children, custody, contact rights, visitation assistance and legal aid, as well as on the possibility of legal assistance in criminal and civil proceedings. If it is helpful to the women, they are given accompaniment to the police and the courts.

The primary goal is, on the one hand, to ensure the external security of the women by making dangerousness prognoses and placing them in high-security housing, but on the other hand, to strengthen their internal security to such an extent that the women can and want to lead a self-determined life with confidence and self-assurance.

The Women’s EMERGENCY CENTER Innergebirg is available around the clock, which makes admission to the women’s shelter, (anonymous) crisis intervention by telephone, and stabilization by pointing out ways out and pointing to resources possible at any time.

The work of the women’s shelter is intended to make society aware of the various forms of violence, to remove the taboo surrounding violence in society, and to bring about legal improvements for women and their children who are affected by or threatened with violence.

Individual and socio-political goals of women’s shelter work

By admitting women and children who are threatened or affected by violence to a women’s shelter, and by providing them with counseling, accompaniment and support, the primary aim is to limit the damage and then to enable stabilization after experiencing violence in the family and to give them a chance to develop in a protected space.

Secondary trauma should be avoided. The long-term goal is for clients to regain a self-determined life without violence, as well as their autonomy and independence. The clients receive guidance on how to independently take advantage of assistance offered by the social network and how to make use of their legal options.