The Yeppoon Women’s Refuge Foundation was founded in May 2024 in response to increased and repetitive incidents in our community of domestic and family violence.

A community forum was hosted in September 2024 by some members of the board. This forum bought together approximately 100 people across private and public organisations, Government departments, local Mayor and Councillors, social workers and frontline agency representatives alongside concerned community members and businesses who provided feedback and response to the question: does Yeppoon need a safe refuge?

The forum provided a challenging insight into the real time statistics of our local area delivered by QPS local teams, alongside Catholic Care, Anglicare, and Council representatives taking the stand. Karen Gilliland’s mother presented an emotional account of how she, and her 3 grandchildren, lost her daughter to domestic violence, and the actions she is taking to point the system, including QPS frontline DFV workers, towards better ways of managing at risk families and ultimately, saving lives. Along with a letter of endorsement from our local Mayor and Councillors, there was a unanimous response from the Community Forum that a safe refuge was required for Yeppoon and surrounding areas, imminently.

What is a safe refuge?

A safe refuge is a secure accommodation facility, where women and children fleeing domestic and family violence are referred by police to, in emergency or high-risk situations. The refuge will provide emergency short-term accommodation to women and families in circumstances where they are in immediate or imminent danger, perceived danger, or threatened.

Board of Directors

Our committed Board of Directors meet monthly – and continue to keep the safety of some of our most vulnerable persons in this region in our line of sight, in the hope of delivering a Safe Refuge to the Capricorn Coast in 2027.

One of the four themes in Livingstone Shire Councils Community Plan 2030 and the Corporate Plan 2020-2030 is to: Foster a vibrant and healthy community that is safe, connected and enhances the wellbeing of its members while supporting high  quality life. One of the intended outcomes for this theme is to enhance community health and wellbeing, safety, and natural disaster resilience.

Our findings show that Yeppoon and the Capricorn Coast is home to many women and children experiencing Domestic and Family Violence. Coupled with the housing crisis and costs of living, women are increasingly reported to stay in dangerous and violent cohabiting situations where their children are equally exposed to threat of harm. In Central Queensland the threat of natural disasters also looms seasonally, and can subsequently increase pressures on family finances and routine, with inflated amount of DFV incidents reported.

The past 24months has been pivotal to the future and success of building a Yeppoon Women’s Refuge. The Foundation’s board members have been working hard behind the scenes to set the scene for financial investment to bring our mission to life: to provide emergency refuge, care and support for women and children experiencing domestic and family violence in our community.

With all operational and financial governance in place, including insurance and risk documentation, and stakeholder engagement plans, standards and guidelines for operation, the foundation is in a good position to move forwards. With DGR Status and registration as a charity with ACNC, the volunteer Board of Directors includes Treasurer, Company Secretary and Chair, along with collective professional experience in: Domestic and Family violence case management, Charitable governance, Communications and Stakeholder strategic engagement, Project Management, Risk assessment and mitigation, Community consultation, social science and theology. Together, they are committed to provide a safe refuge to protect women and children in their community falling victim to this senseless and deadly epidemic so rife throughout many Australian communities: Domestic and Family Violence.