showcasing organisations that offer domestic violence (DV) support
This year, more of Australia’s attention has been drawn to the issue of domestic violence (DV) – but for all the wrong reasons. The country is in the midst of what some have described as a “gendered violence crisis.” In 2024, an Australian woman has been violently killed (on average) every four days, which is much more frequently than the long term average of once every week.
DV is, of course, not a new issue for Australians. An estimated 8 million of us (41%) have experienced violence (physical and/or sexual) since the age of 15. Experiences of physical violence are slightly more common amongst men – 42% compared to 31% of women – while experiences of sexual violence are significantly more common amongst women – 22% compared to 6.1% of men.
Encouragingly, the Albanese Labor Government has allocated $3.4bn in this year’s budget to the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032, which provides financial support and support services, as well as housing and preventative measures to “prevent violence from occurring and escalating.”
While the government has a clear role to play in alleviating the frequency and severity of domestic violence, there are many experienced and committed not-for-profit organisations which have been approaching the issue from all angles for years, seeking to shelter, clothe, offer legal assistance, and otherwise support those affected by DV.
Wendy Brooks & Partners have been contacted by many funders seeking to support the work of organisations doing great work in domestic violence, which is why we’ve decided to bring together the list below. Each of these organisations have initiatives to help in the movement against domestic violence in Australia:
Diverting brand-new clothes destined for landfill and providing choice to restore dignity and hope to disadvantaged Australians.
Millions of Australians have endured the trauma of domestic and family violence, often needing to escape their homes with just the clothes on their backs and a few essentials in their handbags, especially when children are involved.
While women’s refuges provide a crucial lifeline in terms of immediate safety, there’s often an unmet need for essential clothing when survivors arrive.
Thread Together has responded to this pressing need by introducing a unique wardrobe and capsule service designed for women and children who arrive seeking refuge. These wardrobes, meticulously set up by Thread Together, are not just static closets but dynamic spaces, carefully curated and continuously replenished with brand-new, essential clothes. This includes everything from comfortable loungewear, sleepwear and crucial undergarments.
This approach has an immeasurable impact. By offering new clothing within the refuge itself, we eliminate the need for survivors to venture outside in those initial, challenging days when they may still be grappling with trauma or showing signs of recent violence. This simple yet compassionate provision goes a long way in offering solace and security to those who have already endured so much.
Providing recognition and functional care to people facing homelessness across Australia.
We Are Mobilise have been launching one-of-a-kind direct giving programs aimed at unmet needs and have recently launched Mobilise Pay, aimed at single-mother families.
The families participating in the Mobilise Pay program will receive support over a 12 month period, heavily subsidising or covering costs of their bills, utility debt, extracurricular activities for the children and healthy food. Many of the recipients of this program have either experienced or are escaping unsafe situations and Mobilise Pay works to provide them with a stable foundation to write their next chapter.
OurVillage’s emergency aid project ensures a supply of childhood essentials to meet the needs of vulnerable families in emergency situations.
An emergency includes women fleeing domestic abuse and child protections orders. Currently, requests for essentials such as cots, car seats and clothing outstrip supply and a solution is needed urgently. In the past financial year OurVillage has assisted 19,425 babies and children and rehomed 67,677 items. These items are provided to children in need via multiple social service agencies. Many of their clients have experience the need for emergency aid (where goods must be delivered within 24 hours).
Emergency situations are unforeseen circumstances where essential items are left behind. Such events can cause economic, psychological and/or physical distress which negatively impact early childhood experiences. OurVillage can alleviate these pressures and create the opportunity for every child to feel secure, safe and to thrive. The demand for the OurVillage service has grown and it needs support to service increasing requests.
InTouch work with migrant and refugee women who have experienced family violence and are on their journey to recovery.
It provides case management, training, conducts research, and runs community-based projects to address the issue of family violence.
Its focus is assisting women from migrant or refuges backgrounds after formal family violence supports end – it supports a woman to build a life of her own choosing, to connect with others safely and meaningfully, to build lasting connections for her, and her children’s, future.
InTouch have assisted over 20,000 women and children experiencing family violence throughout 40 years of operation, providing a holistic service that centres the experiences of victim-survivors.
No to Violence supports men to alter their behaviours and be better men, husbands, fathers, uncles, brothers and sons.
After taking 150 calls in its first year in 1993, MRS now takes over 60,000 referrals annually from across the country.
While it specialises in targeted interventions to support men and stop their abuse, our primary concern has always been the safety and wellbeing of women and children. As it has grown and evolved over the past 30 years it has also provided expert training for those working across the country to end men’s family violence, set standards for men’s behaviour change programs, and give case management and counselling services. It has also delivered workforce development and advocacy, which incorporates evidence-based policy development, research and evaluation, to help build a passionate, highly skilled and resilient family violence sector.
Baby Give Back is a Queensland charity passionate about helping vulnerable babies, children and families in its community.
Powered by an army of incredible people who share its vision, Baby Give Back’s team of over 250 volunteers collect, sort and safety-check donated essential items (from clothing and nappies to cots, prams and car seats). By working with caseworkers and social workers, they then provide families with customised orders to suit their needs and circumstances. Their priority is ensuring that all donated items are safe and in great condition.
The Safe Start Essentials Project will enable Baby Give Back to recycle, safety-check and rehome new and second-hand baby essentials to families living in crisis and deliver dedicated urgent support to those impacted by Domestic Violence.