Women’s House works towards a vision of a just, sustainable, violence free world in which power and resources are shared equitably.
Our Vision
In working towards this vision, Women’s House:
provides spaces for women to come together to share experiences, make connections and work to end sex-based oppression.
supports community initiatives and projects that seek to enhance women’s well being
seeks to resource activities that challenge and change polices, structures, processes and behaviours that treat women unjustly.
works to expose and combat the limitation of culturally defined attitudes and roles at all levels, particularly as they are oppressive to women.
The Women’s Community Aid Association
Women’s House is owned by the Women’s Community Aid Association (Qld) Ltd, (WCAA), a feminist organisation which grew out of the Women’s Liberation Movement in the mid 1970’s. Throughout its history, WCAA has provided support services to women and children affected by violence and has been a strong advocate for women and children experiencing violence. WCAA currently receives Queensland Government funding to auspice three services; The Brisbane Rape and Incest Survivor Support Centre (BRISSC); Women’s House Shelta; and Brisbane Southwest Support Service (BSwS) as well as a partnership with Zig Zag Young Women’s Resource Centre to provide a sexual assault service on Brisbane’s North Side. Services auspiced by the WCAA maintain certification against the Queensland Government’s Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF).
The Women’s Community Aid Association (Qld) Ltd, is a registered charity with the Australian Taxation Office, and is both income Tax Exempt and a Deductible Gift Recipient entity.
Women’s House was founded by Women Liberationists in the 1970’s. In 2015, Lou Rozensteins, a worker at Women’s House in its early days, complied a history of the organisation. The book ‘Women’s House a history’ is largely based on her photographs and memories and was published as part of the organisations 40th birthday celebrations.
Anna Gilet, a young worker new to Women’s House, who assisted Lou on the project recently told me:
“I loved working with Lou, the richness of the herstory. It was a privilege to hear those stories from a worker who started at Women’s House in the 1970’s – those foundations days.”
Karin Cheyne, February 2024
Our Structure
The Women’s Community Aid Association is committed to maintaining a collective management structure which models a vision of a world in which power is shared and decisions are made in an open and accountable way. Women who share WCAA’s vision and philosophy are welcome to join the organisation.