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About

Southern Women’s Group (SWG) is a dynamic, hardworking, feminist organisation that has been working since 1984 to empower women of the South Coast.

Our Vision

All women are safe, respected, empowered, and supported to flourish.

Our Mission

To provide quality services, support and advocacy that empower women on the South Coast to live free from violence and discrimination, and to achieve their personal goals.

Our Values

Respect
Equality
Justice

Learn more in our strategic plan – View Plan (PDF)

2023 Annual Report – View Here (PDF)

About Southern Women's Group

Southern Women’s Group actively focuses energy on creating opportunities for disadvantaged women of all ages and backgrounds and campaigning for equality and the end of gender-based violence.

Southern Women’s Group was founded in 1984 by a group of women concerned with the lack of services available for women in the Bega region. In 1985, SWG first received a grant from the, then, NSW Department of Youth and Community Services to assist in the running of a Women’s Resource Centre.

One area of identified need was support for women who were experiencing domestic violence and were seeking legal assistance through court ordered Apprehended Domestic Violence Orders.  The Women’s Resource Centre organised a roster of seconded workers from local community services (Bega Women’s Refuge, Family Support Service & Southern Women’s Housing) to support women at Bega Court.  This initiative was later recognised and in 1999 Southern Women’s Group first received funding support from Legal Aid NSW to provide the Far South Coast Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SCWDVCAS).  This service expanded over time to include courts in the Eurobodalla & Bega Valley Shire, and later the Shoalhaven area, so the service is now active from Nowra to the Victorian border.

Over time SWG has evolved to meet the changing needs of the women we support while maintaining its commitment to empower women by providing information, support, referral, education, and advocacy.

Today, Southern Women’s Group manages the Women’s Resource Centre (WRC) and the South Coast Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service (SCWDVCAS).

This historic photo was used on a mass letter to the Minister in the early days of lobbying for a women’s space.

Meet the SWG Management Committee

Julie

Julie Klugman

Secretary

I joined the Southern Womens Group board about 6 years ago. I have a background in community engagement and management,...

Pru

Pru Leone

Member

I am a retired teacher of children with learning difficulties.  I have lived in the Bega Valley for over 40...

Coral

Coral Anne

Member

I have been living in the Bega Valley since 1999, and an active committee member with SWG and the WRC...

JoDonovan

Joanna Donovan

Member

I am a proud Aboriginal woman from the Dunghutti Nation my mother’s Country, Kempsey NSW. I also have ties to...

Kerry

Kerry Moore

Treasurer

I joined the Southern Women’s Group Management Committee in mid-2022. After moving to the Shoalhaven region and after a career...

Catherine

Catherine Murphy

Deputy Chair

I am a passionate advocate for women’s issues, particularly in areas of domestic violence, women’s health and social justice. It...

Andrea

Andrea Powell

Deputy Chair

I have been a member of SWG since 1991. Originally from Melbourne, I moved to the NSW far south coast...

Linda

Dr Linda Tucker

Chairperson

I’m a recently retired human rights lawyer and former legal academic and journalist. I’ve worked in Australia, Cambodia, Vietnam, and...

Join Southern Women's Group

Southern Women’s Group encourages volunteer effort in our services. We direct this unpaid time and energy into the Management Collective as well as social action and advocacy to ensure local needs are met.

SWG annual membership is $2 or $10 includes the e-newsletter.

SWG is managed by a voluntary Collective, operating on feminist principles. Management meetings are held monthly on the third Friday and are open to all interested women. The SWG has Directors’ and Officers’ Liability insurance for members of the collective.

Why do women join?
Why does SWG need members?

Interested in becoming a member? ​

Southern Women's Group is a registered charity

SWG is incorporated under the NSW Associations Incorporations Act 1984. It is also registered as an Income Tax Exempt Charity, and holds Deductible Gift Recipient status.

SWG has a user-friendly giving portal – a place where you can put your dollars to work to start building the kind of world you want to live in. By clicking on the link the site is designed to help you and us!

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