Our History
Since 1976, we’ve helped thousands of women and children escape family and domestic violence.
How It Started
Marrickville Women’s Refuge
1976–1997
Marrickville Women’s Refuge (MWR) operated throughout the 1990s as a vital crisis service for women and children escaping domestic and family violence. Between the early 1990s and 2000, the refuge supported at least 143 women and 264 children, with particularly strong engagement from migrant communities, including a high number of Vietnamese women and families.
During the early years, residents were encouraged to participate in the running of the household, including weekly house meetings, reflecting the collective, community-driven model of refuge work at the time. The service operated with eight full-time workers, four days per week, and was deeply embedded in the broader women’s refuge movement.
In 1995, the refuge temporarily closed for renovations and underwent a significant restructure to better meet emerging community needs. New policies were introduced, including targeted employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and workers from non-English-speaking backgrounds. MWR officially reopened on 26 April 1995, with strengthened governance and practice frameworks, including the introduction of staff supervision, an outreach program, and crisis accommodation rooms to support families and individuals with higher needs. Despite lower numbers during the closure period, by 1996 the refuge supported 390 women and children and hosted the NSW Women’s Refuge Movement Conference.
That same year, the refuge was deeply impacted by the murder of former resident Jean Lennon at Parramatta Family Law Court, a tragic event that underscored the very real dangers faced by women and children experiencing domestic violence and would later shape the identity and legacy of the service.
The Middle Years
Jean's Place
1997–2014
On 16 December 1997, Marrickville Women’s Refuge began operating as Jean’s Place, renamed in memory of Jean Lennon. Under this new identity, the service continued as a mainstream women’s refuge while expanding its professional reach and sector leadership.
In its first year as Jean’s Place, the refuge supported 102 women and 218 children and began taking on student placements, contributing to workforce development in the domestic violence sector. The service was regularly invited to present at Department of Community Services (later DCJ) Children and Families training, providing frontline insights to new caseworkers and strengthening system-wide responses to domestic violence. Funding during this period was delivered through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).
From the late 1990s through to 2014, Jean’s Place supported thousands of women and children. Between 1998 and 2000 alone, the service assisted hundreds of families, and from 2001 to 2014 it supported approximately 806 women and 1,434 children. An on-call service was introduced in 1999, further enhancing accessibility and crisis response capacity.
Despite its strong outcomes and longstanding community role, Jean’s Place was required to re-tender for government funding in 2014 and was unsuccessful. As a result, staff were made redundant, and the refuge faced closure as a mainstream service. Although another organisation was initially awarded the tender, it declined when it became clear the building was not included.
Subsequently, FACS approached the organisation with an opportunity to continue operating if it shifted its focus to specifically support Aboriginal women and children — a pivotal moment that led to the creation of a new, culturally-specific service.
AWCCS in history
Where We Are Today
Aboriginal Women’s & Children’s Crisis Services
2014–Present
Aboriginal Women’s & Children’s Crisis Services (AWCCS) was established in 2014 in response to the critical need for culturally safe, Aboriginal-led support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence. In 2015, AWCCS partnered with Bridge Housing to secure four transitional properties, a partnership that continues today and remains central to the organisation’s housing response.
Between 2014 and 2022, the service supported 387 families, reflecting both the scale of need and the trust placed in the service by Aboriginal communities. On 3 August 2017, the refuge building was officially renamed “Allira’s Place” in memory of Allira Green, a 23-year-old Aboriginal woman who was five months pregnant when she was murdered by her partner, ensuring her story remains central to the service’s purpose and advocacy.
In recent years, AWCCS has continued to grow and adapt in response to demand. In 2023, Natasha Davies commenced as CEO following the resignation of Tracey Robinson, who dedicated over 20 years of service to the refuge.
From July 2023 to February 2024, AWCCS met its full funding targets with four months remaining, highlighting the urgent and ongoing need for housing and support. During this period alone, the service assisted 96 families, supported 102 families in-house, worked with 60 families through outreach, and assisted 16 families through DVRE, alongside comprehensive child support services.
AWCCS is led by an Aboriginal CEO and staffed by Aboriginal family support workers, outreach and child specialists, and long-standing administrative staff, many with lived experience.
Today, the organisation is intentionally shifting from a purely crisis-driven model toward healing-centred, long-term outcomes — focusing on sustainable tenancies, generational change, and strong partnerships with Aboriginal organisations to support safer futures for women and children.
