Media Releases
2026
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YWCA Canberra Records Near-Neutral Gender Pay Gap
EMBARGOED UNTIL TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2026 YWCA Canberra has made significant progress in one year on achieving gender parity with a –4.9% gender pay gap. This outstanding result, which sits within the Workplace Gender Equality Agency’s (WGEA) ‘neutral’ range of plus or minus five per cent. Building on last year’s result of –10.5 per cent,
2025
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Our Lives: Women in the ACT Report 2025: Canberra’s Real Story for Women, Data-Proven
YWCA Canberra’s report into the 2025 Our Lives survey has been released. The 2025 Our Lives survey received nearly 2,800 responses from women and non-binary people across the ACT and region. The survey provides a strong understanding of the lives of Canberra women and tracks personal safety, financial wellbeing, housing, and future perspectives. The Our
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Territory Priority Project Amendment Is a Significant Win for Canberra’s Housing Supply
YWCA Canberra welcomes progress in the Legislative Assembly today to declare public and community housing developments as Territory Priority Projects. This amendment streamlines these housing developments that have received prior planning approval exempting them from costly and lengthy third-party appeals. Canberra is facing an unprecedented housing and homelessness crisis, and meaningful change is long overdue
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YWCA Canberra and Allhomes Team Up for The Great Big Bulb Dig
As Floriade draws to a close for another blooming season, YWCA Canberra is proud to celebrate its role as the 2025 Charity Partner of Allhomes for The Great Big Bulb Dig, taking place on Monday 13 October 2025. This much-loved community event marks the end of Floriade by inviting Canberrans to take home a piece
2024
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YWCA Canberra Welcomes Australian Labor Party Election Commitment to Introduce Three Days of Universal Early Education and Care
Media release YWCA Canberra welcomes the Labor Party’s pledge to scrap the activity test for childcare subsidies and introduce a guarantee of three days of affordable, high-quality early education and care for families earning up to $530,000 annually if re-elected. This proposed policy strongly aligns with YWCA Canberra’s commitment to making early education accessible to
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YWCA Canberra Welcomes Audit Report on The Safer Families Levy. Unsurprised by calls for better transparency and accountability.
Media release After several years of persistent advocacy, YWCA Canberra today welcomes the release of the audit report by the ACT Audit Office which scrutinised the monitoring, reporting and transparency of the Safer Families Levy. The report underscores troubling findings: prevention and recovery services remain underfunded, and no overarching strategy has guided Levy-funded initiatives since
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YWCA Canberra Launches “Plate Up, Canberra” to Support the Lanyon Food Hub Amidst Cost-of-Living Crisis
Media release Canberra, ACT – YWCA Canberra has officially launched “Plate Up, Canberra,” urging Canberrans to donate to the Lanyon Food Hub which will be used to provide gift cards to support the growing number of community members living with food insecurity. With the cost-of-living crisis worsening, individuals from a range of backgrounds are seeking
2023
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YWCA Canberra Welcomes ACT Budget But Cost of Living and Housing Remain Key Issues
YWCA Canberra welcomes the release of the ACT Government 2023-2024 Budget with its emphasis on addressing the rising cost of living, housing affordability and availability and support for women’s economic participation and safety. Cost of living pressures are being felt throughout the community, and those on income support or modest incomes are struggling to afford
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Our Lives: Women in the ACT’ 2023 survey launched
Today, YWCA Canberra launched the 2023 survey, Our Lives: women in the ACT. The survey is open for all women and non-binary people aged 16 years and over who live in the ACT and surrounding region. The survey looks at their lived experiences by asking questions primarily relating to employment, housing, financial security, safety, and
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Building financial literacy for neurodivergent women among this year’s Great Ydeas grant recipients
Leading feminist not-for-profit, YWCA Canberra, has today announced the recipients of its 2023 Great Ydeas Small Grants Program. Each year, the organisation provides $9,000 in micro grants to women, girls and non-binary people in the Canberra region to pursue their passions and improve our community. In 2023, Beyond Bank, Sustineo, Ernst & Young and The Joyful
2022
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YWCA Housing Developments Gets Green Light From Minister
In a recognition of the importance of the project, YWCA Canberra’s application to develop supported housing for women at risk of homelessness in Ainslie has been called in by the Minister for Planning and Land Management. The not-for-profit has been seeking to develop land it owns in Ainslie into nine units to house older women
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YWCA Calls on New Prime Minister to Prioritise
YWCA Canberra has congratulated the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP on becoming Australia’s 31st Prime Minister, and urged him to make good on pre-election announcements that will alleviate pressures on women and families on low to modest incomes. As a leading provider of community services in the ACT, including early childhood education and care, domestic violence
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Great Ydeas to empower first nations women and build community for deaf parents and children amongst YWCA’s grant recipients
Leading feminist not-for-profit, YWCA Canberra, has today announced the recipients of its 2022 Great Ydeas Small Grants Program. Each year, the organisation provides $10,000 in micro grants to women, girls and non-binary people in the Canberra region to pursue their passions and improve our community. In 2022, Beyond Bank, Sustineo, Canberra Innovation Network and the
2021
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YWCA Canberra welcomes increases to funding for Specialist Homelessness Services
YWCA Canberra welcomes the significant investment of $26 million in the 2021–22 ACT Budget to support those in our community who are most in need during the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak. We particularly welcome increased funding to expand the Specialist Homelessness Service programs that commenced operation during the pandemic. The package also includes funding to help
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As the gender pay gap grows, Equal Pay Day 2021 is not a day to celebrate
Today is Equal Pay Day 2021. But it is not a time to celebrate: it is a day to remember that many women are working long hours with low remuneration in highly-feminised industries, such as early childhood education and care. Equal Pay Day is on 31 August this year to mark the 61 additional days
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YWCA Canberra to auspice new National Women’s Safety Alliance
As announced by Senator the Hon Marise Payne, Minister for Women, YWCA Canberra has been selected to auspice the women’s safety alliance to inform and support national policy on violence against women and children. The National Women’s Safety Alliance will bring together leading organisations and individuals across Australia to provide expertise, lead consultation on and support comprehensive policy and program design
2020
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One of NZ’s Longest-Serving Female Politicians to Share Leadership Journey With Canberra Women
Dame Annette King, one of New Zealand’s longest serving politicians and now NZ High Commissioner to Australia, will appear at a special in-conversation event on Tuesday 24 November, hosted by YWCA Canberra at Kambri, ANU. Former member of the New Zealand Labour Party, Dame Annette King served as a member of Parliament for over 20
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Women and Families at Top of Election Agenda
YWCA Canberra has today released its 2020 ACT election platform, outlining an achievable vision for a gender equal Canberra to be progressed in the next term of government. Towards 2024 reflects YWCA Canberra’s longstanding priorities in the areas of safe, secure and affordable housing, preventing violence against women and valuing early childhood education. The Towards 2024
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Gender pay gap continues to drive inequities for Canberra’s women
Today on Equal Pay Day 2020, the ACT Council of Social Service (ACTCOSS), YWCA Canberra and Women’s Legal Centre ACT have joined together to highlight the ongoing financial insecurity and gender pay gap experienced by women in Canberra. As of August 2020, using Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA)
2019
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YWCA Canberra 90 Years Strong
Tonight, YWCA Canberra celebrates its 90th year serving the Canberra community and changing lives for the better at an event at the National Museum of Canberra. Frances Crimmins, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canberra acknowledged the many women that have contributed to the organisation’s growth and sustainability over the decades. “We are where we are today
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New Housing Support Service Opens Doors for Older Women
Today YWCA Canberra launched Next Door, a new innovative housing support service for older women who are at risk of experiencing homelessness. Frances Crimmins, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canberra acknowledged the importance of the ACT Government’s investment in improving the lives of older women. “Through Next Door we will work with women age 50 and over find
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Opportunity for Property Owners to Make a Difference
Today YWCA Canberra launched Rentwell, the first charitable property management service in the ACT to provide affordable rental accommodation to people on low incomes. Frances Crimmins, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Canberra said everyone has a right to an affordable, appropriate and secure place to call home. “We know that Canberrans are proud of our welcoming,