Sydney Women’s Fund emergency domestic violence appeal was ‘saving lives’ in weeks

Sometimes there’s only a window of a few hours to get locks changed and save a woman’s life. Weave Youth & Community Services, a Sydney not-for-profit that works at the ‘pointy end’ of keeping women and children safe from domestic violence, has a trusted team of trauma-informed tradies on call to do the job. The work is funded in part from an emergency appeal by the Sydney Women’s Fund that was in Weave’s hands within weeks.

The grant went to funding Weave’s Staying Home Leaving Violence Program that pays for the installation of new locks, security doors, cameras and emergency-call wristwatches. Weave’s dedicated team of caseworkers provide wrap-around support for women experiencing violence including undertaking security audits of their homes to check for vulnerabilities, implement upgrades and create a safety plan for emergencies.

“You can’t support a woman if she’s dead. Case management and wrap-around services are essential but pointless unless we can firstly keep that woman safe and alive,” said Weave CEO Siobhan Bryson. “Sorry to be dramatic, but it’s the reality. Without a doubt, that grant has saved lives.”

Weave Youth & Community Services, a community-led NFP serving inner Sydney on Gadigal and Bidjigal lands, also run violence prevention and healthy relationships initiatives, among a holistic range of programs and services, but Siobhan said meeting these immediate safety needs for women in these critical circumstances is the first vital step.

Weave was one of 10 charities that received just under $70,000 each from the quickfire Domestic and Sexual Violence Appeal that the Sydney Community Foundation (SCF) took just over a week to create on behalf of the Sydney Women’s Fund (SWF), its leading key impact sub-fund. SCF CEO Loredana Fyffe said it was clear immediate action was needed following a series of high-profile cases of violence against women in early 2024 that the government called a ‘national crisis’.

“Absolute credit to Loredana and the Sydney Women’s Fund team for recognising that women needed women to rally around to support them right then, not in six months or a year when bureaucracy and red tape might possibly come through elsewhere,” said Siobhan.

Sophie Lamberts, Weave’s Women & Children’s Centre Program Manager, said: “The funding meant we could respond to women’s needs quicker and more efficiently – and never have to say no.”

In total, 56 women and their children were supported by the grant.

“If a woman is safe in her home, then she can access counselling and services, and children don’t have to move schools. The woman will still be hypervigilant, but it means she’s able to manage her emotions better knowing she has safety measures in place, parent her children, work and live her life,” said Sophie.

The upgrades mean women have time to call the police or enact their safety plan, which may involve a relative or neighbour attending. Security cameras provide the all-important evidence that a perpetrator has violated an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order and can be re-arrested.

Siobhan has deep roots in the community sector and worked as a domestic violence counsellor and caseworker in the area in the 1990s. She said that the tracking and surveillance technology available today add another incredibly challenging level to the work.

“It’s a real minefield. Perpetrators leave recording devices around the home and track women’s moves on social media and via their phones. They take over women’s social feeds and gain access to their bank accounts and messages, so we have to provide basic mobile phones so we can communicate safely with the women.”

The Weave team sweep women’s homes for bugs and deactivate tracking apps on their phones but they have no tech support or particular training. “We mostly just try to figure it out ourselves with the women we work alongside,” said Sophie.

In some cases, it’s not safe for women to stay in their homes so the program also supports with the moving costs of setting up women and children in new homes. They work with partners like ReLove – another recipient of the Sydney Women’s Fund appeal.

Now, following a horrific alleged gang rape on a young woman in Liverpool last Christmas but only just reported in the media a week ago, Sydney Women’s Fund has gone into action again launching a matched funding campaign to support the Karen Iles Sexual Assault Victims Justice Fund. It’s a Sub Fund of the Sydney Women’s Fund, and another recipient of the original appeal. The fund finances legal representatives for victims of sexual assault and campaigns to increase police accountability on reporting.

Loredana said: “Our business is to know who the great grassroots charities in our patch are — because there are so many extraordinary organisations working quietly and effectively at a local, place-based level across Greater Sydney. It’s often hard to see beyond the big names with large marketing budgets, but in times of crisis, it’s these local charities that move quickly, make real change and save lives.

“There was a lot of gratitude from the charities funded through the appeal. They find it hard to fundraise on top of the complex work they do and each had a huge uptick in what they could deliver. I really encourage more funders to fund in this space,” she said.

Siobhan said securing long-term funding for Weave’s domestic violence crisis work is a challenge as many funders have tight criteria that often change. “We are constantly applying for small grants to top up the Staying Home Leaving Violence brokerage fund,” she said. “It’s a constant hustle and a lot of work.    

“The problem is not being solved, it’s getting worse. Statistics tell us that crime rates for most crimes are decreasing or staying the same, but the ones that are increasing are domestic and family violence, and sexual assault. 

“We need the Sydney Women’s Fund and their supporters more than ever. We never want to be in a position to say no to a lock change, how could we? The stakes are too high.”

All the organisations funded by the SWF appeal are listed on its website.

Main image: Sophie Lamberts, Weave’s Women & Children’s Centre Program Manager (left) and CEO Siobhan Bryson.