Australia’s first profit-for-purpose hotel reopens with a new-look and even greater purpose Song Hotel Sydney, a newly renovated hotel nestled in the heart of Sydney’s CBD, has reopened its doors following a complete transformation and is now inviting guests for a stay to feel good about that combines comfort with conscience. Located on Wentworth Avenue and starting from $200 per night, the new-look hotel provides easy access to the city’s trendiest suburbs and iconic attractions, offering guests the unique opportunity to enjoy a convenient and comfortable stay, as well as a socially conscio ..read more

While YWCA Australia welcomes measures in the 2024-25 Federal Budget to deliver more housing, we urge the government to do more to achieve gender equality across the entire housing spectrum. Michelle Phillips, CEO YWCA Australia said while the budget delivers important measures in areas like women’s safety and economic security outlined in the Women’s Budget Statement, more funding for gender-responsive housing and homelessness services is crucial. “In our pre-budget submission, we called for a gender-responsive approach to tackle the housing and cost-of-living crisis. The gendered nature of ..read more

A $15.7 million affordable housing development led by women for women is reaching new heights in the heart of Adelaide. YWCA Australia, Australia’s only national specialist women’s housing provider, is constructing 24 long-term, affordable rental apartments on Hutt Street. The specialist affordable housing development will prioritise women and their families who have experienced domestic and family violence and is the first of its kind being built by YWCA Australia in South Australia. It will accommodate up to 57 residents, who are women and their family members on low to moderate incomes fo ..read more

YWCA Australia commends the Albanese Government on the release of Working for Women: A Strategy for Gender Equality; an important step towards a more gender equal Australia. Michelle Phillips, CEO YWCA Australia welcomed the release and acknowledged the significance of Australia’s first ever strategy for gender equality. “We are pleased to see that the Strategy provides guidance to embed gender equality in government policies and practices, adopts a data-driven approach, prioritises lived experiences, and delivers a framework for gender responsive budgeting across government”, says Ms Phillips ..read more

YWCA Australia welcomes new research released today from the Australian Housing Urban Research Institute (AHURI) “Gendered Housing Matters” which reinforces the pressing need for gender-responsive housing and homelessness solutions.   YWCA Australia is the only national women’s housing provider in Australia and has long been advocating for gender-responsive housing and homelessness solutions.   Michelle Phillips, Group CEO YWCA Australia applauds the AHURI “Gendered Housing Matters” report, urging policymakers to recognise the importance of gendered housing solutions.  ..read more

YWCA Australia, experts in gender responsive housing, congratulate the Miles Government on the Homes for Queenslanders Plan. The plan follows years of advocacy from the housing, homelessness and community housing sectors and is a positive step in addressing the housing crisis facing Queenslanders. Michelle Philips, CEO YWCA Australia is looking forward to working with the Queensland Government on delivering the vision outlined in the plan and collaborating on tailored and targeted solutions for women and gender diverse people. “As specialist community housing providers in Queensland, we welcom ..read more

YWCA is excited to announce we have received Development Consent to build 35 high-quality homes for women and their families in the Bendigo community with our Bunayi Lunayi project. The Bunayi Lunayi development is funded with a grant from the Victorian Big Housing Build, a grant from the Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation and a contribution from YWCA. These homes will be allocated to women and their families on the Victorian Housing Register, with half of the properties prioritised for First Nations women. The 35 homes will be built in Flora Hill and include 12 one-bedroom apartments, 14 ..read more

YWCA’s Y Connect program, aims to empower women and gender diverse people living with a disability to progress their professional networks and employment aspirations. The core goal of Y Connect is to work with participants to build their individual capacity and assist them to establish and grow their professional networks. The aim is that this support leads to employment and/or career progression. far, over 90 women and gender diverse people have participated in Y Connect programs, events and activities. In 2023, we delivered: Programs 2 Computer Skills programs 2 Money wYse programs P ..read more

YWCA Australia is pleased to officially launch Amplifying Voices, a lived experience leadership program in Darwin and Palmerston, that has been funded by the Northern Territory Government.   The program aims to support young women and gender diverse people with an experience of family and domestic violence and/or homelessness to use their expertise to create the change they want to see. It offers 12 training sessions that will prepare participants to advocate for the changes and has been designed by victim-survivors, for victim-survivors.  The program is now welcoming participan ..read more

YWCA Australia and UNSW City Futures Research Centre have today released a research report Gender, Housing Insecurity and Homelessness in Australia: Data Insights that sheds light on the complex landscape of homelessness in Australia, particularly the unique challenges faced by women, First Nations women, and young people.    YWCA Australia commissioned UNSW City Futures Research Centre to explore the gendered pathways of housing insecurity and homelessness and identify gaps in data to inform and improve future policy design.   Michelle Phillips, CEO of YWCA Australi ..read more