Together with our partner Women’s Community Shelters (WCS), Temple & Webster is campaigning to raise awareness and drive action against gender-based violence as part of 16 Days of Activism. Running from 25 November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day), 16 Days of Activism is a global UN initiative to strengthen commitments and calls for action for violence against women. This year’s theme #NoExcuse underscores the urgent need to address domestic and family violence, with the crisis worsening as violence against women escalates. 

A bedroom at one of the WCS shelters furnished by Temple & Webster

The crisis of gender-based violence in Australia is growing and 91% of Australians agree that this is a problem. Yet, when asked whether it is a problem in their own suburb or town, only 47% agree that this is the case, reinforcing the misperception that gender-based violence does not exist in our communities. (ANROWS, Attitudes Matter: The 2021 National Community Attitudes Towards Violence Against Women Survey, 2023)

However, when we look at the numbers shown by the Personal Safety Survey released on 15 March 2023 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it is clear that domestic and family violence is far more prevalent than is perceived.  
 

1 in 4 women experienced violence by an intimate partner or family member (27%)
1 in 4 women experienced violence by an intimate partner (23%)
1 in 4 women experienced cohabiting partner emotional abuse (23%)
1 in 6 women experienced cohabiting partner economic abuse (16%)

Domestic and family violence is the leading driver of homelessness for women and girls, with 45% seeking homelessness assistance as a result of it. (Homelessness Australia, Homelessness and domestic and family violence, State of Response Report 2024)

Since 2018, Temple & Webster has partnered with Women’s Community Shelters (WCS) - a NSW organisation that provides community-based emergency accommodation and support to women and children at risk of homelessness and domestic and family violence. 

One of the bedrooms at Blue Wren House - Camden Women's Shelter 

In the past six years, Temple & Webster has fully furnished five of the 10 WCS shelters across NSW, including the donation of all furniture and homewares, along with styling advice, delivery of products, and volunteer services for the installations. In addition, we have also fully furnished and volunteered our services for three temporary shelters for older women. 

Combined living and dining at Parramatta Women's Shelter

With more than 54,000 women homeless every night in Australia, and more than 1 in 2 turned away from crisis accommodation due to limited shelters every night, these homes are instrumental in providing housing, counselling and support to at-risk women and children, giving them a safe space to heal and rebuild their lives. 

Creating a space that feels serene and safe sets the tone for healing

For WCS’s transitional property, Allawah House at Gosford, Temple & Webster furnished six combined bedroom-living spaces to provide temporary accommodation for older women escaping family and domestic violence. As with all our other projects for WCS, our focus was to create safe, warm and beautiful spaces for the women to heal. In addition to furnishing, styling and installation, we have also recently donated $5000 in gift cards to women leaving WCS shelters to help them set up their new homes. 

Another fully furnished living and dining space at Parramatta Women's Shelter

As part of our commitment to making the world more beautiful, we stand with WCS to raise awareness of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence and look forward to continuing our work together in creating safe spaces for women and children to rebuild their lives. 

Watch WCS CEO Annabelle Daniel OAM share some of the latest achievements of Women’s Community Shelters. 



Donate to Women's Community Shelters.