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Intimo Aware
At Intimo we passionately support women. Whether it be through a superbly constructed bra, a career path with genuine developmental opportunities or a personalised service experience that exceeds expectations. Our commitment extends well beyond the business of bras. This is why we launched Intimo Aware, our community program dedicated to raising the awareness and understanding of topics relevant to women.
Do You Know Five Women?
Around one in five Australian women report being subjected to intimate partner violence at some time in their adult lives.
(Department of Human Services Victoria (2004) The Health Costs of Violence. Measuring the Burden of Disease caused by Intimate Partner Violence.)
Our Consultants, customers and staff are predominantly female. Moreover, our corporate philosophy is based around empowering women. We offer women a business opportunity that provides financial rewards, new skills training and both personal and professional development which can be summed up as “freedom of choice”. We see it as a natural alignment for Intimo to encourage “freedom from violence”.
When it came to our attention that domestic violence affected so many women, we decided to adopt this issue as our way of giving back to the community that has so enthusiastically embraced our organisation and product. We come into contact with thousands of women each and every week and believe that we can make a meaningful contribution to raising awareness of this issue. Together with the Melbourne based community organisation Southern Family Life, we have been developing the community awareness program INTIMO AWARE to raise awareness and understanding about domestic violence.
To find out more about Domestic Violence, where you can access support or how you can raise awareness of this crucial issue, click on the links below.
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Intimo Aware Funds Raised and Distribution
The primary objective of the Intimo Aware program is to educate, inform and raise awareness about domestic violence throughout the community. As part of the program, Intimo also introduces special special fundraising promotions and activities throughout the year. All monies raised as part of the Intimo Aware program are distributed to domestic violence support services throughout Australia and New Zealand. For more information on where the funds have been distributed, please see below.
Intimo Instyle New Season Launches - January 2006, June 2006 and January 2007
Since January 2006, Intimo has launched each new season's Instyle Collection with parades in every capital city across Australia and in both Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand. Tickets to the event were sold for $3 (2006) and $5 (2007) and all funds donated to the Intimo Aware program and distributed to the nominated domestic violence support service in that state. (see below for the list of organisations)
White Ribbon Day Promotions - Every November since 2004
November 25th is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In support of White Ribbon Day, each year Intimo makes November a special white ribbon fundraising month and has donated 50c to our nominated domestic violence support services across Australia and New Zealand for every white Intimo bra sold during the month of November. For more information on White Ribbon Day, please visit the following website: www.whiteribbonday.org.au
Funds from the Intimo Aware program have been distributed to the following organisations:
Victoria: Family Life www.familylife.com.au
NSW: The Benevolent Society www.bensoc.org.au
South Australia: Anglicare SA www.anglicare-sa.org.au
Queensland: DVConnect www.dvconnect.org.au
Western Australia: Kinway www.kinway.org.au
Tasmania: Anglicare Tasmania www.anglicare-tas.org.au
New Zealand: Preventing Violence in the Home www.preventingviolence.org.nz
Breast Aware
Intimo is incredibly proud to partner with the McGrath Foundation to promote the importance of breast awareness and the early detection of breast cancer. The McGrath Foundation was co-founded by Jane McGrath and her cricketing husband Glenn after Jane's initial recovery from breast cancer. The McGrath Foundation aims to raise money to place breast care nurses in rural and regional Australia as well as educating young women to be ‘breast aware’.
Intimo shares the sorrow and regret of Australia, following the passing of Jane McGrath on the 22nd of June 2008. The legacy of Jane's work and dedication to make a difference, lives on in the McGrath Foundation and the message that she advocated to all women, early detection saves lives. We encourage you to read more about the values, purpose and mission of the McGrath Foundation and log on to their website for more information. Click here for more information on Intimo Aware and the McGrath Foundation.
Responses to the Intimo Aware Program
Preventing Violence in the Home (New Zealand)
I want to give a very big thank you for your company’s amazingly kind and generous donation. We are extremely grateful to you and all of your wonderful Consultants for your enthusiastic support of this agency and our work with women who are really in need of help.
Family violence is a subject which has been hidden away behind closed doors for far too long. It survives and grows stronger in an environment of secrecy. Many people think it is not a suitable subject to be discussed and many women who are victims of violence feel ashamed. Years ago, breast cancer (in fact cancer generally) was not a nice topic for conversation either. Look at the difference to women that has been made, by it being brought out into the open and discussed, researched, fundraised for and sponsored by companies. Now women know what to look out for, don’t feel bad about seeking help, and as a result of the support and research that has gone on, a really horrible time in a woman’s life is made easier. Women don’t have to die as much as they once did.
With the active support of companies like yours, the same changes are possible for women being abused in their homes. It will only be through people reaching out to others and saying it is not okay and what can I do to help, that family violence will cease.
Thank you for taking a leadership role and thank you for making such a difference!
Yours Sincerely
Executive Director
Preventing Violence in the Home
DV Connect (Queensland)
Your organisation's significant and ongoing support of DVConnect and your commitment to the work of violence prevention in the community, is to be commended. This latest donation that you have provided us will aid our "Pets in Care" program, which as you know aims at providing foster care to the pets of womenand children who must leave their homes and enter refuge due to family violence.
On a more personal note, I would also like to thank you for your kind hospitality and the warm welcome you extended to us during our recent visit and presentation to your conference. It really was a very rewarding experience for us to meet with your Consultants and share with them about the work of DVConnect, and we were very impressed by the feedback that we received from Consultants we spoke with during the meal break. Again, we sincerely thank you for your ongoing generosity.
With Sincere Regards
Development Officer
Manager
DV Connect
Family Life (Victoria)
Thank you so much for your generous donation which was raised as part of the Intimo Aware, Domestic Violence Program. We would like to use your donation to enhance our program for women who have experienced family violence or abuse. While the women come from all walks of life, many of them have a low income. Initially the women attend individual counselling sessions with our qualified staff. They are then invited to attend one of our specialist support and therapy groups in which they are helped to learn new behaviours which assist them to recognise healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns.
The celebratory dinner held at the end of the group sessions represents a significant personal and social achievement for the women, as many have not been to a restaurant for many years. Your financial support will assist us to provide this dinner for the women.
The following quote from a participant offers insight into the value of the therapy group for her; "Much of the time, I thought very little of myself. I've liked the support (of the groups) and I now feel a sense of empowerment as I have a greater understanding of my experiences."
In many cases we also work with the male partner to assist him to develop new ways of communicating with women. Many couples then progress to attending counselling for couples where they learn to communicate with each other in more effective ways. We sincerely thank you for partnering with us in such a powerful way to enhance women's lives.
With Kind Regards
Community Relations Manager
Family Life