What is MotHs & What do we do?
MotHs (Mums of the Hills) is not just an online group..
It's an active community that has been making a positive impact since its founding in 2015. Our journey began with a simple goal: to support the wellbeing of mothers across the Yarra Ranges and alleviate the sense of isolation that can affect individuals, particularly mums. Over the years, MotHs has grown exponentially, becoming known as a space for connection and support for mothers navigating the challenges of modern life.
What is MotHs and What do we do?
Most people know MotHs has a large online group at its heart, with many smaller branch groups focused on common interests or to support specific conversations and connections. These virtual spaces have evolved into communities where mums come together, share experiences, find solace in a supportive network and make deep connections, which help to reduce isolating factors that can affect any community. Due to our location, terrain and environmental vulnerabilities, the Yarra Ranges community is particularly sensitive.
Isolation in communities can be caused by many things. Geographical barriers and natural disasters are two sources synonymous with the ranges. Other factors, however, can be equally isolating. Economic challenges and social crisis situations, such as family violence, can be especially debilitating to social connections. Lack of community infrastructure and internet access can also isolate communities by limiting access to casual social interactions, information, education, flexible work options, and other opportunities. Mental and physical health challenges also create barriers too great to push through while caring for young children, often preventing mums from even getting out of the house. Sadly, discrimination is evident in communities, leading those affected feeling scared to join others. The MotHs online communities act as casual circuit breakers for these difficult, and often interconnected, factors, thereby creating opportunities to form relationships that would otherwise never materialise.
But MotHs is much more than this. More than simply supporting each other through these challenges, we’re working towards preventing them. The grassroots collective of MotHs online groups, under the incorporated banner of MotHs Inc.,takes the goal of ending isolation beyond the casual/digital realm directly into MP offices and beyond to the federal cabinet.
In December 2020, we took the significant step to incorporate as MotHs Inc. This transition allowed us to secure grant funding, establish transparent methods of operation, open a bank account and purchase event insurance. Without incorporating, MotHs’ efforts to reduce isolation were hamstrung . Advocating to government on isolation-creating factors such as natural disasters, financial hardship, lack of long daycare, mental and physical health challenges, and domestic violence, has become a major part of what we do.
Being incorporated means MotHs Inc has a governing committee. This voluntary governing committee guides MotHs Inc activities to ensure that the projects and initiatives delivered are those desired by the Mums of the Hills online group members.
But who are the MotHs Inc. committee members? Committee members are paid MotHs subscribers and Moths Inc members, who meet regularly to make decisions about how to to support our community with the resources that are available to us, they have a desire to shape the direction of MotHs Inc. To become a MotHs Inc member, people need to be a subscriber first. An application letter for membership is made to the committee according to the MotHs Inc rules.
The online groups, by contrast, are moderated by a team of passionate and dedicated volunteer administrators, and remain outside the governance of MotHs Inc. MotHs Inc. initiatives are driven by the needs and desires voiced through the online community’s collective commentary. In return, we hope to see as many online members as possible acknowledge the time and funds required to run a highly-organised and active calendar of events, workshops and advocacy efforts by becoming paid subscribers. Paid subscriptions will secure MotHs place-based and face-to-face future and the future support of mums throughout the Yarra Ranges.
Looking ahead, MotHs Inc. is committed to furthering its role in the community by working towards gaining charitable status. This will expand our grant funding opportunities, allowing us to continue offering much-needed initiatives for free to our most vulnerable community members. Introducing a modest paid subscription is crucial to ensuring a consistent funding stream, which is essential for budgeting and managing ongoing costs not covered by grants, enabling us to deliver meaningful projects and initiatives that reduce isolation in our community. Our active online group ensures the governing MotHs Inc committee is always aware of the community’s needs allowing us to best guide MotHs’ activities while staying true to our main objective: reducing isolation of mothers in the Yarra Ranges.
MotHs is more than just an online group, and more than MotHs Inc. MotHs stands as a testament to the strength of our community and the positive change that can be achieved when individuals come together. As MotHs grows, we hope that together we can overcome isolation and create a thriving environment for all.
Here are some quick links for further information.
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Purpose: Reducing factors that cause isolation through communication, connection and supporting each other. Thank you to our volunteer admins who look after the private group.
Are you a mum and local to the Yarra Ranges? Join here.
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Maintained by the MotHs Committee to inform the whole community of events and updates.
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These are hidden groups accessible only to members of our Main private group. They are often interest and support specific.
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Purpose: Financial support for the running of MotHs
Community subscriber benefits: Newsletter, access to hub, event discounts.
Business subscriber benefits: Listed in the MotHs Business Directory, promoted in our 6.6k private group and feature in our monthly newsletter.
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Purpose: Secure funding to advocate, provide services and place based events. Thank you to our volunteer committee members for running MotHs Inc.
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MotHs Inc Members are paid subscribers that would like to contribute more to the direction of MotHs Inc. and the wider community. To become a member, a person must first be a subscriber. As per our Model Rules, a written application to the committee is needed.
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Located on the top floor of Belgrave Preschool, the MotHs Hub is where we hold events, study, work and invite services that our community has asked for.
Your subscription would mean the world to us. If you have ever been supported or benefited from the work MotHs does, please consider supporting us to keep it going. A little help will go a long way.