Work /
Australia
The Judith Neilson Foundation backs organisations advancing justice, safety and opportunity for women and girls across Australia.
Circle on Kaurna Yerta 2026. ©Tranby Aboriginal Co-operative
Sydney Women’s Fund is helping to create pathways for women and girls in Western and South-Western Sydney into education, training and employment. © SWF.
Strong Women for Healthy Country Network is dedicated to protecting their lands and supporting their communities. © Karrkad Kanjdji Trust.
Fair Agenda is advocating for women’s safety, security and agency. © Fair Agenda
The Keeping Women Out of Prison Coalition advocates for reforms that help women and their families break free from cycles of disadvantage and incarceration. © KWOOP.
Our priorities in
Australia /
Strengthening services and support for women and girls in Sydney
We invest in services and infrastructure that help women and girls access safety, stability and opportunity. This includes improving coordination between frontline organisations, strengthening referral pathways and building the sector’s capacity to collaborate and adapt.
Backing First Nations women and girls
We support First Nations women’s leadership and economic participation, especially in Northern Australia. Our partners are building the foundations for intergenerational wellbeing by strengthening infrastructure, networks and autonomy. This includes support for women-led enterprise, financial independence and self-determined community development.
Advancing justice for women and girls
We invest in reducing criminalisation and improving access to timely, trauma-informed legal support. This includes community-led legal services, diversion and reintegration programs, and work that addresses the root causes of incarceration and shifts justice systems toward fairness and accountability.
Our work in action /
We work towards safer, fairer and more inclusive systems for women and girls experiencing intersecting disadvantage. These include First Nations women and girls, marginalised migrant and refugee women and girls, older women, and those living in rural and remote areas.
Listening first, building futures: Women in Liverpool shape what comes next
In Liverpool, the early months of Doorways to the Future have been about listening. Led by Sydney Women’s Fund, the program began its community engagement in January 2025, meeting women where they are and creating space for their experiences to guide what comes next.
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Women rangers unite for Country and community
Gatsby Africa is advancing locally manufactured bio-based construction systems to expand access to safe, affordable housing in East Africa.
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Health workers in East Arnhem Land take the lead on family violence response
In East Arnhem Land, a remote region of Northern Australia, First Nations health workers are being trained to respond to domestic, family and sexual violence in ways rooted in language and culture.
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Keeping Women Out of Prison is reaching a turning point in NSW
Supported by Sydney Community Foundation, the Keeping Women Out of Prison (KWOOP) Coalition is shifting the pathway for women who come into contact with the NSW criminal justice system.
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Safer Futures Toolkit. A new national resource for frontline workers
Refugee women often carry the weight of trauma, fear and uncertainty when seeking help. The Safer Futures Toolkit, launched by RACS is helping frontline workers recognise that and respond with care.
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Legal advocacy as prevention
Many women caught in the legal system are there because of violence, homelessness and poverty.
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Why stable housing shapes women’s chances of rebuilding their lives
When Sara arrived at the From Now program, she described herself as exhausted: “lost, broken, and stuck in a cycle that seemed impossible to break.”
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Challenging ageism in the job market
When Claire, 53, moved from Queensland to Sydney to escape domestic violence, she retrained in events management, only to have the pandemic shut down her new career..
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Survivor advocacy drives reform of forensic care in Queensland
Many women caught in the legal system are there because of violence, homelessness and poverty.
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The case for investing in women in prison
Women are now the fastest-growing group in Australian prisons, and the majority are mothers. Even a short time behind bars can profoundly affect their children, leading to cycles of disadvantage and further incarceration. By putting our support behind women in prison, and investing in the organisations that work tirelessly on their behalf, we can help disrupt the cycle of disadvantage for women today and those to come.