The NSW Women's Refuge Movement is incorporated as the NSW Women’s Refuge Movement Working Party Inc (WRM WP Inc). This is a non-profit state-wide representative body of specialist domestic violence services. Member women and children’s services aim to respond to community needs by providing a continuum of services to women and children who are homeless or at imminent risk of homelessness particularly when this is due to domestic and family violence.

The WRM WP Inc:

·  Provides a supportive network and forum for refuge workers to discuss and promote best practice and exchange skills and knowledge

·  Undertakes projects to facilitate the work and effective operation of member refuges

·  Develops and provides resources and information about women and children’s homelessness, domestic violence and related matters for refuge workers, the sector and the community

·  Advises and informs Government about issues relating to domestic violence and sexual abuse, women and children’s homelessness, and the needs of women and children as clients of SAAP and other services

·  Works with government and community groups to improve responses to women and children escaping domestic violence, sexual assault and other forms of abuse

Background of the Women's Refuge Movement

Following intense lobbying of the Whitlam government in the early 1970's, Elsie Refuge in the inner Sydney suburb of Glebe became the first funded refuge in Australia in 1974. The service worked towards addressing the absence of alternatives for women at that time by providing a safe option for women and children escaping domestic violence. This refuge was to be the precursor to the 55 women's refuges currently operating as part of the NSW Women's Refuge Movement.

In line with feminist philosophy, the focus of the early women's refuges in NSW was on women and children's empowerment through a safe, supported environment. There was an emphasis on mutual support between the women which was felt to be a valuable component to their empowerment. These continue to remain as central principles in women's refuges. However twenty-five years on, refuges have evolved and now provide a broad range of services, support and advocacy including; outreach, court assistance, assistance with housing and legal matters, information, training and referral.

As the number of refuges increased, it became increasingly obvious that a unified approach was needed to effectively put domestic violence on the political agenda. In February 1979, refuges came together to meet in Bathurst for the first State Wide Conference.

Over the years the structure of the NSW Women's Refuge Movement evolved to ensure as far as possible, that all refuges have the opportunity to be involved with policy development and lobbying for change. Based on equal representation in policy development and decision making processes, the NSW Women's Refuge Movement has been used as the voice of all but a small number of refuges for women and children escaping domestic violence in NSW.