Give list: Domestic violence

This give list provides a range of not-for-profit organisations working to prevent domestic violence and support affected individuals and families in Australia.

Charities are addressing a wide range of preventative and responsive needs, from education, security technology and men’s mentorship programs, to mental health support, crisis accommodation, wrap-around support and long-term recovery services for those experiencing and escaping violence.

While the entities listed below are all known to APS, we do not conduct a detailed analysis of their financial position and governance ahead of their inclusion in this list. Each charity’s audited financials are available to view on the ACNC website. This is not an exhaustive list of the many not-for-profit organisations working in this space. 

Preventative

The Man Cave

ABN 71 624 984 836
https://themancave.life/

The Man Cave is a preventative mental health and emotional intelligence charity that works to empower boys to become great men, and in doing so, aims to reduce the prevalence of mental ill health, suicide and gendered violence. Focusing on early intervention, The Man Cave deliver transformational programs on emotional intelligence and coping mechanisms. Through school workshops and online programs, the programs work towards young men readily identifying their emotional world and needs, taking action through self-care, and regularly connecting with their support networks. The Man Cave also foster an understanding of how actions impact and inspire others, a critical awareness for forming encouraging and respectful connections.  The majority of programs are run in Victoria.

Top Blokes Foundation

ABN 37 905 538 438
https://www.topblokes.org.au/ 

The Top Blokes Foundation is a boy’s health organisation that improves the mental health, emotional resilience and community engagement of young males aged 10-24. Through peer-led mentoring programs, young men improve their mental health, develop positive decision-making skills, decreasing their risk-taking and anti-social behaviours and positively contribute to the community.

  • Mentoring for Boys, is an 8-10 week in-school program guiding them through the complexities of early adolescence with a focus on promoting healthy and safe lifestyles.
  • Mentoring for Teens, run over 2 terms, this program is designed to hold space for 14 -17 year olds to talk about everything from relationships to alcohol, leadership to vaping, self-awareness to drugs, mental health to healthy attitudes to sex.
  • Mentoring for 18-24 yr old young men, over a 2-month period help equip young males with the practical skills to make informed decisions, ultimately enhancing their quality of life and relationships within their communities.

 

Women’s Community Shelters (Prevention and crisis support)

ABN 54 153 006 556
https://www.womenscommunityshelters.org.au/

Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) works with communities to establish shelters to provide crisis accommodation and support for homeless women, particularly those leaving domestic violence and often accompanied by their children, to rebuild self-esteem and achieve control and fulfilment of their lives. Women can access counselling, health care, assistance to navigate government bureaucracy, legal help, further education and employment to re-establish control over their life.

Women’s Community Shelters also run a Walk the Talk program for schools and corporates. The program is designed to focus on prevention and early intervention education. Schools partner with their local community shelter to understand the importance of prevention and the provision of crisis support.

Each WCS shelter is its own incorporated entity with a skilled volunteer Board. The Shelter Board is supported by the WCS Hub to establish and operate each new shelter in partnership with their local community. The WCS network of shelters includes: Northern Beaches, Hornsby Kuringgai, Great Lakes, The Sanctuary – The Hills, Bayside, The Haven – Nepean, Parramatta, Blue Wren House – Camden, and Binyani House – Revesby.

 

Crisis/Refuge

Dandelion Support Network – NSW

ABN 56 008 492 014
https://dandelionsupport.org.au/

Dandelion Support Network supports families in need, including those affected by domestic violence, with new and second-hand equipment and essential items.  Families facing domestic violence often have to leave their homes and all their belongings at short notice.  Dandelion’s support means that mothers can leave a violent situation and be reassured they have all items necessary for the safety, wellbeing and development of their children.  The entity works with a large number of frontline agencies in identifying who needs support, providing that support and establishing impact.  Any support is multiplied in value through in-kind donations and volunteer support.

Friends With Dignity – National

ABN 53 608 105 004
https://www.friendswithdignity.org.au/ 

Friends With Dignity focuses on improving the quality of life of any adult and child impacted by Domestic Violence through the provision of financial and tangible resources, programs and scholarships and enhancing the personal safety of individuals.

This volunteer-run charity also provides practical programs to assist survivors of domestic violence in collaboration with refuge and crisis centres in Queensland. Their programs include Community engagement (encouraging individuals to speak out against domestic violence), Friend Safe (safety alarm smart watch for victims and survivors), Little Friends Scholarships (providing academic and extracurricular activity support to children) and the Sanctuary Program (transforming houses for victims who have left everything behind).

Full Stop Australia – National

ABN 58 023 656 939
https://fullstop.org.au/

Full Stop Australia is a sexual, domestic and family violence response and recovery service. The organisation reaches communities in every state and territory, with the following key focus areas:

  • Support: offering confidential, trauma specialist counselling for people of all genders who are impacted by violence and abuse, as well as their friends, colleagues and family members.
  • Education: offering training and professional services to support safe and respectful workplaces, educational environments, and communities.
  • Advocacy: encouraging governments, businesses, and communities to make changes to laws, policies, and practices to better prevent and respond to sexual, domestic and family violence.

 

Havafeed – QLD

ABN 62 083 138 881
https://havafeed.org/

Based in the Mermaid Beach Community Centre, Havafeed have been helping the Gold Coast community by providing hot meals and food parcels since 1994 to disadvantaged families, victims of domestic violence, pensioners and the homeless.  They pick up women and their children suffering coercive control and transport volunteers.  Havafeed collaborate with local support services, including having members of the Queensland Health Homeless Outreach team attending the community centre twice a week for health checks, mental health support and other health and social service referrals.

Havafeed is 100% volunteer-run and is supported by OzHarvest and many local businesses. They operate a mobile van to pick up donations and distribute food across the greater Gold Coast area to south of Brisbane. Operating a café style environment, they not only provide food, but a place to rest, have a conversation and community connection.

Hearts of Purple Limited – QLD

ABN 71 631 992 508
https://www.heartsofpurple.org/ 

Hearts of Purple work around victims of high-risk domestic violence, to prevent serious injury and/or death. They provide technology, digital safety devices to victims, which allows them to live-stream when the device is alarmed, to a monitoring centre. This can then be used as evidence in a court hearing. Working with a Specialist Assessment Team and collaborating with other charities and departments, they work to ensure the safety, and security of each client.

Mary’s House Services – NSW

ABN 43 606 187 839
https://maryshouse.org.au/ 

Mary’s House Services operates Mary’s House Refuge and the Daisy Centre to reach as many women as possible and provide tools of empowerment to rebuild their lives.

Mary’s House Refuge on Sydney’s lower north shore supports up to five families, accepting women and their children escaping domestic violence and is able to connect to external services to secure the safety and welfare of pets. It’s a beautiful and functional home, especially appointed to provide safety as well as a sense of belonging.

The Daisy Centre provides services to women experiencing domestic and family violence. It is a physical and virtual, safe place providing tailored services meeting the individual needs of clients at their level of comfort. The Daisy Centre provides clients with to access continuous support while they navigate options before, during and after escaping a domestic violence situation.  Women can come for information and advice, attend psychoeducational programs, or simply use a phone or computer in private.

Lou’s Place – NSW

ABN 17 135 874 118 (The Marmalade Foundation Limited)
http://www.lousplace.com.au

A daytime community refuge for women in Sydney, most women who visit Lou’s Place have experienced multiple traumas in their lives and the majority are facing issues of homelessness, domestic violence, mental health or addiction. Lou’s place provides services at three levels:

  • Basic needs: home cooked meals, showers, clothes washing facilities, emergency clothing and toiletries.
  • Front-line services: crisis intervention, referrals, Innovative trauma-informed programs, Ongoing case management, legal advice, supporting clients with court appearances or medical appointments.
  • Life skills and wellbeing: relationship support & education, therapeutic groups, art, sewing, music, yoga, creative writing, jewellery making, visits from hairdressers, physio, pop-up boutique and health workshops.

 

Ovis Community Services – WA

ABN 98 861 423 088
https://ovis.org.au/

Ovis (Overcoming Violence, Inspiring Safety) is based in the Peel region, and provides a range of services designed to both prevent and provide crisis support in violent or abusive circumstances. They operate 2 refuges, the Pat Thomas Refuge which provides crisis accommodation and the Warlang Bidi Therapeutic Refuge which provides 24/7 support to women and children who have been impacted by family and domestic violence, but also who suffer mental illness and/ or harm from alcohol and other drug abuse.

In addition to their refuges, the provide a range of childrens’ services (childcare, counselling, advocacy), transitional housing and community outreach services (court support, case management). They also run the Pinjarra Women’s Centre which runs a preventative model for women and children along with a suite of accessible wrap-around services including, but not limited to legal, financial, mental health and alcohol & drug dependence.

Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence – WA

ABN 51 096 676 308
https://www.patgilescentre.org.au/

The Patricia Giles Centre for Non-Violence provides a range of services and programs for families experiencing and escaping family and domestic violence.  Their family and domestic violence hub in Merriwa (Wandjoo Place) provides a safe space and access to counselling. They have two crisis accommodation services including the lead-bed for the northern corridor, which offer 24/7 support.  Their outreach services include support with transitional housing and long-term housing, their ‘Safe at Home’ program, and group counselling programs like the Bark program – a counselling program for children that incorporates animal therapy.

In addition to the support for women and children experiencing domestic violence, the Patricia Giles Centre also runs the social enterprise Just Cause, which focuses campaign activity on community awareness and prevention of family and domestic violence.

RizeUp – National

ABN 64 607 715 588
https://www.rizeup.com.au/

The RizeUp mission is to drive awareness of domestic and family violence within society and to generate life-changing, practical support for families affected, giving them the hope and empowerment to move on to a life free from violence.  They deliver three main programs:

  • Rapid Response program - RizeUp’s crisis response program supports women and children leaving a domestic and family violence situation by sourcing critical personal care items needed at women’s refuges. This provides access to practical items they need to get through in the critical few days.
  • Homes program – RizeUp supports women and children to remain in a safe home by setting up and furnishing their home to make it habitable. Having a home that is furnished with care and love increases the likelihood that the family will stay in a safe environment and reduces the likelihood of the family returning to the domestic violence situation where the cycle could repeat.
  • Community (YESS) program- RizeUp delivers community engagement activities. By building the sense of belonging, this program reduces the feeling of isolation for families that are seeking to rebuild their lives.

 

Sydney Women’s Fund Domestic & Sexual Violence appeal

ABN 12 619 116 488 (Donate through Be Kind Sydney using ‘DFVAppeal’ as reference)
https://sydney-womens-fund-urgent-domestic-violence-appeal.raiselysite.com/

Sydney Women’s Fund have launched an urgent appeal where they are matching your donations dollar for dollar up to $150,000. Funds will go to their grassroots partners working in and around Sydney across a range of essential services and approaches including:

  • Crisis Support
  • Trauma and Recovery
  • Sexual Assault
  • Legal Support/Advocacy
  • Primary Prevention

 

The Wayside Chapel – NSW

ABN 77 406 918 553
https://www.waysidechapel.org.au/

The Wayside Chapel operates in Kings Cross, Sydney, working with people experiencing domestic violence, homelessness, isolation and various health issues from all backgrounds and walks of life, with the motto ‘no us and them’ – they do this by breaking down the barriers of judgement and providing a safe place where everyone is welcome.

The Women’s Program offers all visitors to Wayside who identify as women, the choice to access a dedicated and safe space, and the opportunity to receive gender-specific support tailored to their individual experiences. It provides:

  • Specialised Domestic & Family Violence Care Coordinator.
  • Specialised female care coordinators available to work on complex cases with referrals to other agencies including housing, welfare, addiction, and legal support.
  • A women’s only safe space accessible only by lift, complete with kitchen, laundry facilities, shower, and consultation room.
  • Community and connection with women through daily activities and monthly outings.
  • Mother’s support groups.

 

Long Term Support

Banskia Academy – NSW

ABN 20 660 889 056
https://www.banksiaacademy.org/

Banksia Academy provides training, education, access to appropriate and sustainable employment opportunities, and a program of trauma-informed wrap-around supports for vulnerable women, particularly survivors of domestic and family violence. Their Theory of Change is premised on supporting women survivors into higher paid and higher skilled work, particularly in the digital economy, to reach their full social and economic participation potential. Their programs are streamed into Return to Work, and Thrive and Work, and they have established Australia’s first virtual Hub for women survivors.

Whilst a new charity, Banksia Academy is the engine room for a NSW Office of Social Impact Investment 4 year Payment By Outcomes contract with Scriibed.  The program will support 170 victim-survivors who have been unemployed and on government benefits for 6 months or more, to be digitally skilled-up, mentored and then sustain employment at Scriibed.

Lovewell Foundation (Hope Foundation) – QLD

ABN 11 117 886 432
https://lovewellfoundation.org.au/

Lovewell Foundation focuses on assisting women rebuild their lives; to train, reskill and rehabilitate; working with counsellors, social workers and local businesses. They have two entities – Sunflower Place which runs their Better Futures Program, a 6-week series of practical workshops to assist vulnerable women focus and develop their goals and plans for their future, commence training or employment with support that continues for 3-6 months. The Lovewell Café works with women who are rebuilding their lives by providing a safe place of work and a community to help them rebuild and grow. Lovewell pre training and employment programs are based in Mt Gravatt and easily accessed by public transport.

Stepping Stone House – NSW

ABN 21 191 277 100
https://steppingstonehouse.com.au/

Based in Sydney, Stepping Stone House provides a safe place for children and young people at risk or experiencing homelessness.  Their ‘Stepping Stones to Independence’ model helps young people to develop important life skills and become independent young adults.  Many of the young people Stepping Stone House supports have experienced domestic violence, sexual and emotional abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction.  To support young people facing these difficult situations, long-term shelter and support programs are provided, including supporting them well beyond the normal funding cut-off age of 18. Stepping Stone House is a dedicated community, providing long-term accommodation and support for young people aged 12 – 24 years old.

The Lady Musgrave Trust – QLD

ABN 83 010 612 272
https://ladymusgravetrust.org.au/

Since 1885, The Lady Musgrave Trust has provided practical solutions that transform lives and transition young Queensland women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, family breakdown, poor health and other complex issues; and provide them with a place to live, access to education and employment opportunities.

With domestic and family violence a primary cause of young women experiencing homelessness, The Lady Musgrave Trust gives young Queensland women and their children somewhere safe to go – a place they can call home; by living in one of their 11 South East Queensland properties; safe and supported housing, with access to services & information and advocating for change to solve homelessness.

Two Good Foundation – NSW

ABN 39 614 114 331
https://twogood.com.au/

Two Good supports, empowers and employs women with lived experience of homelessness, domestic violence and complex trauma. Two Good provides healthy meals and care packages to women in refuges and employs those women as a stepping stone to further employment.  The social enterprise model enables individuals and companies to order lunches, with an identical meal provided to a woman at a domestic violence shelter.

Women’s Property Initiative – VIC

ABN 64 077 478 696
https://wpi.org.au/

Women’s Property Initiative (WPI) is a social housing developer creating homes that will enable women and their children to live with dignity as contributing members of local communities. Many of the women housed have been victims of domestic violence, have been homeless, have very limited income, have experienced mental health episodes due to trauma experienced in their lives, may be recovering from drug and alcohol issues.

WPI currently owns and manages 122 high quality, long term homes for more than 280 women and children.  They also manage 140 affordable, well-located properties for low to middle income earners on behalf of other organisations housing more than 300 people. Rents never exceed more than 30% of household income or 74.9% of the market rate.

Women’s Resilience Centre

ABN 93 640 736 983
https://www.womensresiliencecentre.com.au/

The Women’s Resilience Centre (WRC) is positioned to fill the gap between short-term crisis care and longer-term recovery with a focus on women who have left threatening and traumatic situations and are progressing through government housing to independence. They provide a range of programs focused on providing knowledge and skills to become self-sufficient, build confidence, self-esteem and personal agency. The programs supported by a lived-experience peer-to-peer mentoring, delivered nationally online and face-to-face. The free programs include:

  • Employment Readiness
  • Building Resilience
  • Financial Wellbeing
  • Caring Conversations
  • Wellbeing Programs

 

YWCA Australia – National

ABN 74 111 663 873
https://www.ywca.org.au/

YWCA Australia provides social and affordable housing for women and gender diverse people as well as some transitional housing. The organisation is the largest national provider of long-term affordable accommodation to women in Australia, providing more than 130,000 nights of affordable accommodation every year.YWCA delivers 28 support programs nationally including family and domestic violence, homelessness and sustaining tenancies services; offering leadership opportunities and a Lived Experience Network for women and gender-diverse people who are passionate about removing the barriers that stand in the way of women’s housing security.

Zephyr Education – National

ABN 47 805 738 577
https://zephyreducation.com.au/

Zephyr Education supports families affected by domestic violence by supplying school needs, including uniforms, shoes, backpacks, stationery and textbooks, camp and resource fees and in ever-increasing quantities, laptops and iPads. Zephyr has grown to support more than 130 shelters: across Queensland from Gold Coast to Weipa and west to Mt Isa, including 27 shelters run by First Nations organisations. Refuge shelters in other states exceeds 70 and Zephyr continues to be fully volunteer-run.

Updated 10 May 2024