Gentle force for radical change
Three times a week, ANGLICARE chaplain Lynn Pickersgill makes her way to the Juniperina Juvenile Justice Centre in the Sydney suburb of Lidcombe. There, she enters another world – one populated by 40 or so young women detained there at anyone time.
Lynn's role involves getting to know each of the girls and helping them find answers to questions about faith and meaning.Most of the time the girls know little about the Jesus of the bible and carry a distorted understanding of what Christians and the church represent.
"Some struggle with God and what prayer really is," says Lynn. "For instance, one girl said "I prayed to get out and I'm still here. God doesn't answer my prayers."
Juniperina opened in 2005 – the only centre in Australia catering exclusively to young women who are either on remand (waiting for their hearing or sentencing); or serving a sentence, known as a control order. The centre provides individual case management, specialised counselling and training in job, living and parenting skills, as well as the option of spiritual support.
Read between the lines and a picture forms of young women from difficult social circumstances often involving abuse and neglect. Many have mental health issues and little education or skill to navigate jobs, relationships or the responsibilities of motherhood.
"About half the girls have been in Foster Care," says Lynn.
"They have been abused, rejected and neglected and when they are given up, they think it is their fault. They enter adolescence damaged, with no self esteem and no role models.
"The dominant girls do what they want to do, yet while they may be in their teens, angry and acting out, emotionally they are still that scared four or five year old being abused."
This makes them a hard group to work with according to Lynn.
"They observe you," she explains, "and judge you as an adult or 'church person'. Sometimes that will repel them and yet, some will ask for prayer."
Lynn says her main goal is to accept where the girls are at and to build bridges and plant seeds of truth that God can use later in their lives.
"One of the challenges is the difficulty these girls have in accepting that God loves them so I get excited when the Gospel is explained – to see it resonate in their hearts."
But a new-found faith and identity can only be the start.
"The reality is, many of the girls here end up in prison as adults: they just don't have the coping mechanisms in the world outside of these walls. This is why I would love to see more female volunteers running life skills programs and visits by Christian youth groups.It's great for the girls to have another example of how to live from their own peer group."
To support the appeal for ANGLICARE's chaplaincy work visit www.anglicare.org.au/how-can-i-help/donate.
