Philanthropic Donations Power New Sydney Women's Refuge After Government Grant Denial

Mary's House Services, a charity operating in Sydney's north, has secured a second refuge for women and children escaping domestic violence using private philanthropic donations after its application for federal government funding was rejected. The property purchase will complete in October, with plans to open the new refuge in 2027 following security upgrades and renovations.

The organisation pursued funding through Housing Australia's National Housing Infrastructure Facility Crisis and Transitional Housing program—now known as the Housing Australia Future Fund Crisis and Transitional program—to purchase and renovate a Sydney building. The program was part of a $1 billion federal budget commitment for crisis and transitional accommodation for women and children. However, Housing Australia rejected the application, citing a lack of uplift in housing supply and insufficient evidence of secure long-term funding, while noting that Homes NSW had evaluated the project's overall priority as low.

Surging Demand Drives Expansion Needs

Mary's House Services reported a 63 per cent surge in client referrals in 2025 compared to the previous year. According to chief executive officer Yvette Vignando, the charity receives referrals from across Sydney, regional and rural New South Wales, and interstate as families relocate for safety, financial, or employment reasons.

The charity's annual report indicated that 118 women and their children were turned away due to lack of vacancy in the 2024–25 financial year, alongside 38 declined social worker support referrals. Rejections rose further in the 2025–26 financial year, with 176 refuge accommodation referrals declined because of no available space. Since its founding, the charity's initial leased refuge site has delivered over 20,000 safe room nights.

Government Decision and Community Response

Warringah Independent MP Zali Steggall, who made representations on behalf of the charity during the funding application process, expressed disappointment over the government's decision, calling domestic violence a national crisis that requires proper frontline funding. Housing Australia stated that applicants were judged strictly against eligibility criteria and that it had informed Mary's House Services of the areas where the proposal fell short. Homes NSW declined to comment.

After the grant was denied, Mary's House Services turned to private donors to fund the property acquisition. The new refuge will contain self-contained apartments offering temporary crisis housing for women and children of all ages, as well as families with pets.

Future Operations Rely on Ongoing Support

Though Mary's House Services previously received some New South Wales state funding for three caseworkers, it currently has no government financial commitment to deliver services at the second site. The organisation will require additional specialist social workers to operate the site once it opens in 2027. Chair Helen Conway and CEO Vignando emphasized that the expansion relies heavily on philanthropic backing while noting a wider shortage of state and federal investment in crisis housing across Sydney's northern suburbs.