Great Lakes Womens Shelter

18/06/2026

Domestic and family violence is not something that only happens somewhere else. It affects women and children here in our local community.

In 2025, 73% of Great Lakes Women’s Shelter clients presented due to domestic and family violence.

Behind every number is a woman or family needing safety, support and the chance to rebuild. Great Lakes Women’s Shelter provides trauma-informed, culturally safe support through shelter, outreach, advocacy, referrals and case management.

Raising awareness matters because understanding the issue helps build a more informed, compassionate and supportive community.

17/06/2026

Starting again takes courage, resilience and determination. It also takes a lot of 'stuff'. Things many of us take for granted.

We have a client moving into independent accommodation and we'd love to provide them with a washing machine. You know, something most of have at home and never think about. Or worse, look at it and think 'ugh, not the washing again'.

Yep, washing day can be a drag, but for some it would feel like a luxury.

If you have a machine you don't need, don't want or can spare (that works) please message us, we'd love to hear about it.

16/06/2026

🧠 Wellbeing Wednesday – Strong partnerships, stronger support 💜

🧠 Wellbeing Wednesday – Strong partnerships, stronger support 💜

This week, we were incredibly grateful to welcome Belinda and Lou from the Great Lakes Womens Shelter, who generously donated a large number of period underwear for our female students.

We believe that no student should miss out on learning or feel disadvantaged due to a lack of access to essential personal care items. Donations like these help us provide practical support while promoting dignity, confidence, and wellbeing for our students.

We are proud to have such strong partnerships within our local community. By working together with organisations like the Great Lakes Women's Shelter, we can ensure that our students receive the care and support they need to thrive.

A huge thank you to Belinda, Lou, and the team at the Great Lakes Women's Shelter for their generosity and ongoing support of our students. 💜

09/06/2026

Safe support is about more than responding in a crisis — it is also about helping women move forward.

In 2025, 68% exited into private housing.

This reflects the practical support women receive through Great Lakes Women’s Shelter, including case management, advocacy, referrals, rental support and help rebuilding stability after domestic and family violence or homelessness.

A safe place to stay is only part of the journey. The longer-term goal is helping women move toward housing, independence and a stronger foundation for the future.

This is why local support matters. It helps create real outcomes for women and children in our community.

04/06/2026

When people think about a women’s shelter, they often think only about crisis accommodation.

But support can begin long before that. And continues long after.

In 2025, Great Lakes Women’s Shelter supported 68 women through outreach. That means local women were able to access support, advocacy, referrals and practical help while remaining in the community.

Outreach can include help with safety planning, housing support, referrals to legal, financial or medical services, and support to navigate difficult next steps.

This work is important because not every woman needs shelter accommodation straight away — but many still need support, information and someone to walk alongside them.

03/06/2026

🚨 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦.

27/05/2026

Check it out! Our MASSIVE end of year sale is on now.
Selected racks are down to $1 per item!

Menswear
Ladies
Kids
Babies
Shoes
Bags
Scarves

Perfect as we head into winter. And don't forget, all profits from the Op Shop are used to help fund the Great Lakes Women's Shelter and all the support programmes we run.

📍 68 Manning St, Tuncurry.
⏰ Monday to Friday 9-4 and Saturday 9-12:30

Every dollar you spend in the store helps us help others 🙏

26/05/2026

It's a hidden problem. An invisible epidemic that people don't like to talk about. But that doesn't mean it's not there, and doesn't need support. Support from people like you.

Last year alone we provided almost 10,000 nights of safe accommodation to women and children who would otherwise have had nowhere to go.

Leaving a toxic and often dangerous situation is never easy. It's impossible without the right support.

And it's definitely not the end of the story. In fact, it's only the beginning.

Your donation can help change someones life, and donations of $2 or more are tax dedictible.

Help us raise $25,000 by June 30 and donate now at https://loom.ly/mPv80RA

22/05/2026

This week we’re celebrating National Volunteers Week and saying a massive ‘thank you’ to all the people who give up their time to keep the shelter and the Op Shop going.

We genuinely couldn’t do the work we do without you💪

Here’s just a small group of the amazing people who are part of Team GLWS.

Thanks to all our volunteers, you’re all totally AMAZEBALLS 🙏

Visit the Op Shop say g’day to some of these wonderful humans.

📍68 Manning St Tuncurry
📆 Monday to Friday 9-4 and Saturday 9-12:30

15/05/2026

Massive thanks to The Junkyard at Pacific Palms who are now collecting Op Shop donations on our behalf. Legends!

You can find them this Sunday at Pacific Palms Community Centre. Go, show them some love and drop off some goodies for the Op Shop too:)