Vale Helen Rimington
We are deeply saddened to share the news that, after a long illness, our dear colleague and friend, Helen Rimington, has passed away.
Helen contributed so much to the sector in her 35-year career and was a pioneer of youth peer support programs, including PATS, which became the national peer-based model for young people with a parent with mental illness. Her work to reduce the stigma of mental illness in communities, workplaces and for everyday people, changed the way we talked about, understood and responded to mental health and illness. She simplified strategies for good mental health and managing psychological distress and made them accessible for all.
Helen was part of Drummond Street Services for 20 years, having many roles such as leading our family and parenting services work, our youth services, and at some point even held the role of deputy CEO. Helen played a vital role in shaping Drummond Street and the broader family and parenting sectors. Her legacy remains in the way we work alongside parents, families and communities.
Helen’s Just Families research into the needs of couples and people transitioning to parenthood broadened our understanding of the complex needs that can impact new parents, and was the forerunner of our Ready Steady Family service across north-west Melbourne. Helen understood that we need to meet families where they are at, supporting them in their hopes and aspirations for their children with the resources available to them – and this means services delivered without judgement, by workforces that look and speak like our clients.
Helen built an incredible group of parenting educators and support workers from community, many of whom had attended her parenting programs or received support, and then been mentored to move into the sector. She understood from many years ago the value of elevating lived experience and cultural knowledge to ensure engagement of the right families, but also as the key to responsive services.
On public housing estates and growth corridors she understood the need to focus on building communities and neighbourhoods where families could connect and raise children together.
She went above and beyond to help families, from sourcing and delivering washing machines, cots and fridges, to helping families put on funerals when necessary. Through the COVID-19 pandemic she was a shining light for so many, feeding hundreds of families with culturally appropriate groceries, providing family care packs, and sourcing tablets, computers and internet access to keep isolated people in touch and kids connected to school.
Whenever necessary, she was a fierce advocate for her families, for women living amid family violence, and for those facing or experiencing homelessness.
As well as changing people’s lives in a professional way, she touched us all personally with her humour and humility, leaving us with a lifetime of memories we will always cherish.
Helen’s presence is still felt every day in our work and in the lives of the individuals, families and communities she supported. Her impact has been profound and lasting, and she will be dearly missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Helen’s family, friends and loved ones.
4 Comments
I am so sad to hear this news.
Helen and I met at the Centre for Adolescent Health and my thoughts go out to her sons, husband and her many friends and coworkers.
She and I ran a program in the Dame Phyllis Frost centre for women who had children in prison. She conducted herself with her usual warmth and hilarity and I feel honoured and very grateful to have worked with her and known her.
With love to all who knew her,
Felicity Sloman
Vale Helen, you brought sunshine & contagious joy into so many lives across years of selfless service, from beyondblue to Berry Street
Helen was a great person towards me, she made me feel at ease and brought kindness towards me and others. It made me sad when I found out that she has passed away.
Like so many friends and colleagues I was devastated to hear about the passing of Helen.
I have had the absolute privilege to work closely with Helen in the early 2000’s at Jesuit Social Services, then as a participant attending the Statewide Parent Education Network (SPEN) meetings. Since 2017 Drummond Street (Helen) began hosting one of the 4 annual SPEN meetings – usually the December meeting where Helen excelled herself in regards to catering and entertainment.
Helen was a larger than life personality, full of goodness and sunshine. There is so much more that could be said about Helen but I will conclude by saying Helen epitomized everything good and beautiful about the word.
Fortunately Helen left behind a legacy of advocacy, promoting wellbeing and resilience which will continue to influence my professional and personal life.
Thank you Helen.