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We need to pay attention. Women aged 55 and over are one of the fastest-growing groups at risk of homelessness in Australia. Yet their experience is often hidden. Many are couch surfing with friends or family, living in cars, or moving between temporary accommodation. At WCS, our large-scale transitional homes provide more than just a roof over someone's head. We provide: 🧡 Safety and security 🧡 Empowerment and independence 🧡 Health and wellbeing 🧡 Community connection and belonging Everyone deserves a safe place to call home.
If you think someone may be experiencing domestic or family violence, or they choose to share their experience with you, it can be difficult to know what to say. The good news is that you don't need to have all the answers. By responding with care, empathy and respect, you can make a meaningful difference. The following approach can help guide the conversation and provide support.
At Women’s Community Shelters, we see the barriers to leaving violence every day. The latest Anglicare report, 'The Cost of Leaving', highlights challenges we know all too well. If you've ever wondered, "Why doesn't she leave?" or been asked that question yourself, the answer is rarely that simple.
At Women's Community Shelters we want to see a world where every woman and child lives free from abuse. To do this we provide safe havens, but we also advocate for the systemic changes needed to end domestic, family and sexual violence and homelessness. The National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children, a national framework signed off by all states and territories, is now at its halfway point. The Second Action Plan provides a halfway point to consider where further action is needed to achieve this bold vision of ending domestic, family and sexual violence in a generation. With over fifteen years’ experience, creating more than thirty safe havens, and last year alone providing more than 68,229 nights of safety, we have firsthand, localised knowledge of the barriers and solutions to ending violence against women and children and we know that housing is central, and essential, to ending gender-based violence. You can read our submission here: https://www.womenscommunityshelters.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Womens-Community-Shelters-Submission-on-the-Second-Action-Plan-National-Plan-to-End-Violence-against-Women-and-Children.pdf
🚩 Red flag or real concern? "I just want to know you're safe." "Why can't we share passwords?" "Let me set that up for you." Not all technology abuse looks obvious. Sometimes it can be disguised as care, protection, trust, or convenience. But when technology is used to monitor, pressure, intimidate, or control someone, it's no longer about safety. It's about power and control. Swipe through to learn some common technology abuse red flags and how to spot them. Technology abuse is a form of coercive control. To find out more about tech facilitated abuse, we recommend: https://www.esafety.gov.au/key-topics/tech-based-abuse/about-tech-based-family-domestic-sexual-violence eSafety Commissioner
