Greater Charitable Foundation has announced a three-year, $730,000 partnership with Zahra Foundation Australia that is set to deliver life-changing programs to Hunter-based women recovering from domestic and family violence (DFV).
A new nine-week “Pathways to Empowerment” program is designed to economically empower women who are rebuilding their lives after leaving domestic and family violence.
The program will be offered free of charge to women across the Hunter Region, equipping them with the tools, knowledge and confidence to achieve financial independence, set and act towards life goals, find pathways to education, training and employment and to break the cycle of abuse.
Zahra Foundation Australia, which was established and is based in South Australia, will collaborate with Newcastle-based crisis support service provider, Jenny’s Place, to roll out the program to victims of abuse, enabling them to reconnect to their community and pursue their life goals through a culturally responsive, trauma-informed approach that can assist people from all walks of life in their recovery.
The team will work with women and non-binary people who have left abusive relationships in order to help them rebuild their lives and create financial independence so that they and their children don’t need to choose between safety and poverty or homelessness.
The establishment of the program in the region comes at a time where the scale and prevalence of DFV in the community continues to climb.
In 2021-22, the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research recorded an increase of 9.3% in the number of reported domestic violence-related assaults across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
Data for the last financial year shows that DFV is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children across the Hunter Region.
Zahra Foundation Australia Co-founder, Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM, said they were excited to expand the footprint of the South Australian-based organisation into NSW, and specifically the Hunter Region, which has been made possible through the partnership with the Greater Charitable Foundation.
“There is no recovery from family and domestic violence without financial independence and economic empowerment. No woman should have to choose between the safety of themselves and their children or poverty and homelessness.
“We have seen so many women find new confidence, pathways to education and employment and restore connections to friends and community through the Pathways to Empowerment program in Adelaide and we are excited about the opportunity to give women in the Hunter the same opportunity.
“Through Jenny’s Place, we will share our expertise and support services to people across the Hunter Region with a particular focus on financial and economic empowerment, to break the cycle of domestic violence.
“We know what a difference the Pathways to Empowerment program can make in the lives of women and children and believe every woman recovering from family and domestic violence should have this opportunity – we are excited that women in the Hunter will now have that chance.”
Arman Abrahimzadeh OAM, Zahra Foundation Australia Co-founder.
Features and benefits of the new partnership include.
- Creating critical access to recovery services in Newcastle for women rebuilding their lives after Domestic and Family Violence.
- Creating an evidence base of best practice supports and services via the partnership between Zahra Foundation Australia, Jenny’s Place Newcastle and program evaluation partner, Deakin University.
- Supporting the economic empowerment and financial independence of women, to support them to not just recover but thrive after fleeing from domestic and family violence.
Greater Charitable Foundation CEO, Anne Long, said that tragically, domestic violence continues to be a reality within our society, making services and programs provided by organisations such as Zahra Foundation and Jenny’s Place critically important.
“Since its establishment in 2015, Zahra Foundation has undertaken incredible work to help many women and children to rebuild their lives after experiencing domestic violence,” Anne said.
“We’ve seen firsthand the work they have conducted across Adelaide, which aligns perfectly with our strategic focus of improving life outcomes by positively enhancing the financial wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
“We saw this as a wonderful opportunity to assist Zahra Foundation in expanding their services interstate and look forward to working with them and Jenny’s Place over the next three years.”
More about Zahra Foundation
Zahra Foundation was established in 2015 in honour of Zahra Abrahimzadeh, who was murdered by her estranged husband in 2010. Zahra’s children Arman, Atena and Anita created an organisation to help women escaping abuse gain the skills they need to build a life free from violence.
The Foundation offers a unique empowerment program, specialised financial counselling, one-off grants and skills workshops to help abuse survivors enrol in study, find work and plan their future.
Zahra Foundation relies on the generous support of sponsors, donors, government and community fundraisers to continue this work.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault or domestic or family violence, support is available via1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
For more information about the partnership, click here.
