AusRelief's women and family support programme gives women and families in Australia practical help with food, essential items, emergency assistance and ongoing care. This article explains what it covers, how support is shaped around each household, and how you can contribute or volunteer.

Key takeaways

·       The programme supports women and families facing financial hardship, housing instability and difficult life circumstances in Australia.

·       Support includes food and care packs, emergency assistance, household help, support for women in crisis accommodation, referrals and ongoing care.

·       The programme is community-led, so the help a household receives reflects its own situation rather than a fixed package.

·       Community referrals and ongoing care keep families connected after first contact, alongside toy drives, seasonal initiatives and women's events.

·       Supporters can give once or monthly, fundraise, or apply to volunteer.

What does a women's support programme provide?

A women's support programme provides practical, ongoing help that keeps a household steady while longer-term pressures are worked through. At AusRelief, that help covers seven areas, from food and care packs through to emergency assistance, support for women in crisis accommodation and community referrals. On top of that, toy drives, seasonal initiatives and gatherings such as Nurses Iftars and women's events give families time together and a wider circle of connection. The table below sets out what each area involves.

Who is the women and family support programme for?

The programme is for women and families experiencing financial hardship, housing instability and difficult life circumstances. In most cases, the women taking part are already holding a household together, managing rent, school, meals and care for others on limited means.

Still, effort alone doesn't remove the barriers they face. Rising living costs and a tight rental market put sustained pressure on household budgets, and those pressures tend to build over years rather than weeks. In fact, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that females are the main recipients of specialist homelessness services in Australia. That's why the programme focuses on steady, practical support that holds over time.

How is a women's support programme planned with the women taking part?

Support is planned around what each woman says would help her household most. Because the programme is community-led, there's no standard package handed out to everyone. Instead, a household explains its situation and priorities, and the support is drawn from the areas above to match.

Why there is no fixed package

Two families in similar circumstances rarely need the same thing. For example, one household may most need regular food and care packs while a parent works through a change in income. Another may be managing day to day but need help setting up the home after moving. And a woman staying in crisis accommodation may need essentials to see her through the transition. So the starting point is always the household's own view of what matters.

How referrals and ongoing care work

Many women first hear about support through someone they already trust, such as a teacher, shelter worker or support worker. After that first contact, community referrals and ongoing care mean a family can stay connected rather than receiving a single delivery. Anyone seeking help can also call AusRelief on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357).

On top of that, some needs sit with government services. For instance, Services Australia's crisis and special help covers payments for people in severe financial hardship, and Moneysmart's urgent help with money points to free financial counselling. The same approach applies across crisis and emergency support in Australia, where each request starts with the household's own priorities.

What does ongoing support look like for women and families?

Ongoing support means a family stays connected after the first contact, with help that continues as circumstances change. In fact, the programme is designed around long-term support that helps women and families rebuild stability and strengthen their connection to the community.

For women accessing crisis accommodation, that means practical support during a period of transition. After that, community referrals help connect women with other services as their situation settles, so support doesn't end when the first need is met.

On top of that, the programme makes room for connection. Toy drives and seasonal family initiatives mean children can mark important times of the year, and community gatherings such as Nurses Iftars and women's events bring women together in a shared, welcoming setting. That matters because stability at home also depends on having people around you.

Women and family support is part of the local work AusRelief runs in Australia, alongside crisis and emergency support for households facing a sudden change. Beyond Australia, AusRelief also runs international and local projects in food aid, water, education, health and emergency response. Across every AusRelief project in Australia and overseas, the focus stays on sustainable, long-term change for the communities involved.

Where does my donation to the programme go?

Donations to the programme fund food support, essential care items, emergency assistance and community initiatives for women and families.

AusRelief Limited is a registered charity and Public Benevolent Institution, and it's endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient. So its details are listed on the ACNC Charity Register, and eligible gifts follow the Australian Taxation Office's rules on tax deductions for gifts and donations. On top of that, part of any charity's spending supports the systems behind delivery, which is where charity admin costs come in. And AusRelief reports on each year's programmes in its annual report.

How can I support women and families through a charity?

You can support women and families by giving, fundraising or volunteering, and each option suits a different amount of time. The table below sets out what each one involves.

Regular giving matters in particular, because ongoing donations mean funds are ready before a request arrives. Meanwhile, fundraising with AusRelief lets you raise funds together with friends, colleagues or a school group, and running your own charity event or appeal works best when the format suits the people taking part.

Volunteering in your local community

Volunteers apply through AusRelief's volunteer application form, and the team then explains available roles before you commit. Alongside hands-on help, volunteers can also offer skills such as languages or admin support. Depending on the role, you may need a Working with Children Check or a police check. Charities also have responsibilities toward their volunteers, and the ACNC publishes guidance on volunteering for the sector. In practice, volunteering for a charity in Sydney usually starts with a short briefing and time alongside an experienced team member.

Shared effort and what steady support makes possible

Stability at home usually comes from small things held in place over time. When food and essentials are reliable, a woman can put her attention on work, school runs, a new lease or her own health. That's a modest shift on paper. In practice, it changes what a family can plan for.

And that steadiness depends on many supporters giving together. When people give regularly, volunteer a few hours or run a local appeal, the programme can keep supporting more families, more consistently.

Frequently asked questions

Which Australian charities run women and family support programmes?

Several Australian charities run programmes for women and families, and AusRelief is one of them. Its women and family support programme provides food and care packs, emergency assistance, household support, crisis accommodation support, referrals and ongoing care, and community events. Before giving to any charity, you can check its registration on the ACNC Charity Register.

What does a women's support programme provide?

A women's support programme provides practical help that keeps a household steady, such as food, essential care items, emergency assistance and household support. At AusRelief, it also includes support for women in crisis accommodation, referrals to other services, toy drives, seasonal initiatives and community gatherings like Nurses Iftars and women's events.

Is AusRelief's women and family support programme in Australia or overseas?

The women and family support programme runs in Australia, as part of AusRelief's local support alongside crisis and emergency support. AusRelief's office is in Yagoona, NSW. Separately, AusRelief runs international projects in food aid, water, education, health and emergency response overseas.

How is a women's support programme planned with the women taking part?

AusRelief's programme is community-led, so support is shaped around each household's own situation and priorities rather than a fixed package. A woman explains what would help most, and support is drawn from areas such as food packs, emergency assistance, household help and referrals. Ongoing care means the support can change as circumstances do.

Can I volunteer with AusRelief's women and family support work?

Yes, you can apply to volunteer through AusRelief's volunteer application form. The team then explains available roles before you commit, and you can offer hands-on help or skills such as languages or admin support. Some roles require a Working with Children Check or police check, which the team will explain.

Are donations to AusRelief tax deductible?

AusRelief Limited is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient, so eligible donations are generally tax deductible in Australia. You can give once or monthly to the women and family support programme. The Australian Taxation Office's guidance on gifts and donations explains what you can claim and what records to keep.

Want to help women and families keep their households steady?

Visit the women and family support programme to contribute or find out how to get involved.