Month: June 2026

MEDIA RELEASE

25 June 2026

PRIVATE PHILANTHROPIC CHARITY FILLS VITAL FUNDING GAP FOR VICTIM-SURVIVORS

At a time when the public purse in Tasmania is stretched to the limit and waiting times for support are long, Hobart Women’s Shelter couldn’t believe their luck when new philanthropic funding from the charity Family Frontline Support landed in their lap yesterday.

Janet Saunders, CEO at Hobart Women’s Shelter said,

“It’s not every day you take a call from a private philanthropic charity that asks you ‘where is your greatest need?’”

“Of course, it was a no-brainer. Our collaboration with Engender Equality’s therapeutic counselling services that has put counsellors onsite at the shelter for the past two years did not attract the public funding we had hoped for this year.

“To have practitioners on-site who can quickly wraparound women and children experiencing family violence is so critical to ensuring integrated, trauma-informed support where and when they need it most,” she said.

“Our partnership with Engender Equality has transformed how we are able to support residents at the Shelter. Having specialist therapeutic support available on-site means women can access care in a way that feels safe, timely, and connected to their broader needs.”

Family Frontline Support’s investment reflects a growing commitment within the philanthropic sector to fund place-based, collaborative responses to complex social issues. This funding will ensure the continuation of embedded therapeutic services at Hobart Women’s Shelter, supporting women to navigate the impacts of violence, rebuild their lives, and move toward safe and sustainable futures.

Alina Thomas, CEO at Engender Equality, said the funding recognises the importance of collaboration in responding to family violence. “We know that women’s recovery is strengthened when services work together in a coordinated and relational way. This funding allows us to continue delivering therapeutic support embedded within Hobart Women’s Shelter—meeting women where they are and responding to their needs in real time.”

Richard Gorman, Director and Board Chair Family Frontline Support said they are pleased to support collaborative responses to family violence. “We are proud to support this important partnership between Engender Equality and Hobart Women’s Shelter. Place-based, collaborative approaches like this are critical to ensuring women can access the support they need. In an environment where victim-survivors face huge wait times to get support, we are pleased to improve access to services for women at the Shelter.”

Media Contact:

Alina Thomas, CEO, Engender Equality  0438 788 291 

Belinda Witter, Deputy CEO, Hobart Women’s Shelter 0403 286 625

For a lived experience representative (case study) please contact advocates@engenderequality.org.au or
0415 740 524.

MEDIA RELEASE

24 June 2026

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Wed 24th June 2026, 11:30am-12noon

LOCATION: Hobart Women’s Shelter, South Hobart – see further details below.

‘PHILANTHROPY STRENGTHENS PARTNERSHIP SUPPORTING WOMEN EXPERIENCING FAMILY VIOLENCE’

Engender Equality and Hobart Women’s Shelter are pleased to announce new philanthropic funding from
Family Frontline Support, enabling the continuation and strengthening of their place-based therapeutic
partnership in southern Tasmania. This investment will enable the two organisations to deepen their
collaborative model, ensuring women and children experiencing family violence can access integrated,
trauma-informed support where and when they need it most.

The partnership brings together crisis accommodation and specialist therapeutic services, offering a
coordinated response that prioritises safety, healing, and long-term recovery. By working alongside each other
on-site, practitioners can respond quickly and provide consistent, wraparound support.

Alina Thomas, CEO at Engender Equality, said the funding recognises the importance of collaboration in
responding to family violence. “We know that women’s recovery is strengthened when services work together
in a coordinated and relational way. This funding allows us to continue delivering therapeutic support
embedded within Hobart Women’s Shelter—meeting women where they are and responding to their needs
in real time.”

Janet Saunders, CEO at Hobart Women’s Shelter, welcomed the investment as a significant contribution to
women’s safety, health and wellbeing. “Our partnership with Engender Equality has transformed how we are
able to support residents at the Shelter. Having specialist therapeutic support available on-site means women
can access care in a way that feels safe, timely, and connected to their broader needs.”

Richard Gorman, Director and Board Chair Family Frontline Support said they are pleased to support
collaborative responses to family violence. “We are proud to support this important partnership between
Engender Equality and Hobart Women’s Shelter. Place-based, collaborative approaches like this are critical to
ensuring women can access the support they need. In an environment where victim survivors face huge wait
times to get support, we are pleased to improve access to services for women at the Shelter.”

Family Frontline Support’s investment reflects a growing commitment within the philanthropic sector to fund
place-based, collaborative responses to complex social issues. This funding will ensure the continuation of
embedded therapeutic services at Hobart Women’s Shelter, supporting women to navigate the impacts of
violence, rebuild their lives, and move toward safe and sustainable futures.

Media Contact:

Alina Thomas, CEO, Engender Equality  0438 788 291 

Belinda Witter, Deputy CEO, Hobart Women’s Shelter 0403 286 625

For a lived experience representative (case study) please contact advocates@engenderequality.org.au or
0415 740 524.

HWS is located opposite the Badminton Centre in South Hobart. Our address is confidential. You will be asked
to sign our Confidentiality Agreement on arrival. There is a public car park opposite the entry of the
Badminton Centre. The address of the car park is 106 Cascade Road, South Hobart. Please give us a call
on 6273 8455 when you arrive at the car park. One of us will come out and meet you there.
The gate to the shelter we will meet you at is about halfway up the brown fence on the right.

NB- If for some reason you are unable to contact us on the number provided above, please call the staff
mobile instead on 0488 688 721.