Elsie Refuge
Encyclopedia
The Elsie Refuge for women and children was a women's refuge set up in Glebe
, Sydney
in 1974. A group of feminist activists squatted a housing commission property in Glebe and set up the refuge in response to the lack of services & support available to women & children suffering from domestic violence
. Initially, there was no support from governments, with the staff at the centre providing security with nothing more than a cricket bat. The Whitlam Government
granted funding to the service in 1975.
The refuge was the first of its kind, and served to inspire other women around the world to recreate the service model in their local areas.
Although crisis accommodation
for women had been available for a long time, Elsie Refuge and its feminist counterparts were the first to run a service from a feminist perspective that focused on helping women escape domestic violence.
Glebe
Glebe Glebe Glebe (also known as Church furlong or parson's closes is an area of land within a manor and parish used to support a parish priest.-Medieval origins:...
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 1974. A group of feminist activists squatted a housing commission property in Glebe and set up the refuge in response to the lack of services & support available to women & children suffering from domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
. Initially, there was no support from governments, with the staff at the centre providing security with nothing more than a cricket bat. The Whitlam Government
Whitlam Government
The Whitlam Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. It was made up of members of the Australian Labor Party in the Australian Parliament from 1972 to 1975.-Background:...
granted funding to the service in 1975.
The refuge was the first of its kind, and served to inspire other women around the world to recreate the service model in their local areas.
Although crisis accommodation
Crisis accommodation
Crisis accommodation is accommodation provided to people experiencing temporary or ongoing conditions of crisis with the aim of removing them from an otherwise harmful environment and allowing them to improve their situations from a safe and stable environment...
for women had been available for a long time, Elsie Refuge and its feminist counterparts were the first to run a service from a feminist perspective that focused on helping women escape domestic violence.
Further reading
External links
- Newspaper articles covering events related to Elsie Refuge