Creating space for safety this International Women’s Day

March 4, 2026

International Women’s Day (8 March) is an opportunity to reflect on the realities women face, and the responsibility we share to remove the barriers that prevent safety, recovery and long-term wellbeing.

For women leaving domestic and family violence, housing is not just about having a roof over their heads. It is about safety, privacy and the ability to begin healing after prolonged trauma.

Yet for many women, suitable housing simply does not exist. A lack of options forces impossible choices: remaining in violent situations, moving between temporary arrangements, or facing homelessness. This is one of the most significant barriers preventing women and children from leaving violence, and it is a challenge CatholicCare has been working to address.

In response, CatholicCare is introducing the Core and Cluster model, a new way of supporting women and children, or single women, as they transition out of domestic violence and begin to rebuild their lives.

Moving beyond traditional refuge models

Traditional refuge systems have provided critical safety for women and children over many years. However, shared living environments can also create challenges, particularly for families with complex needs or for women recovering from long-term trauma. At times it even split families as male siblings in their teen where often not allowed into a women’s refuge.

General Manager Kim McIntyre explains, “In the past, we’ve had the old refuge system and as much as that’s been worthwhile, there are barriers to a whole lot of families living under the one roof. We’ve often had child workers and support workers, that assisted with transport to appointments or short term child minding, but it hasn’t necessarily been a healing space or a space where they can recover from what they’ve gone through to be able to move forward in life.” Healing from domestic and family violence is not quick or linear. “It takes a lot of time to get over long-term, entrenched domestic and family violence trauma,” Kim explains. “So we’re hoping that these new purpose-built complexes along with specialist staffing support will do that.”

What is the Core & Cluster model?

The Core and Cluster model is designed to prioritise women’s autonomy, dignity and safety, while ensuring they remain connected to community and support. “Each woman will have their own self-contained apartment, giving them privacy and autonomy while still being connected to a really communal space,” Kim says. “That’s why it’s called Core and Cluster.”

The “cluster” refers to the independent living apartments, while the “core” is made up of shared spaces that encourage connection and healing. These include communal areas where CatholicCare can provide wrap-around services, as well as playgrounds for children, shared eating areas and educational spaces. This model recognises that while privacy and independence are essential, recovery is strengthened when women are supported by safe relationships, practical services and community connection.

Removing barriers to leaving violence

One of the most persistent challenges facing women experiencing domestic and family violence is the lack of safe, suitable housing.

“We know that one of the major barriers preventing women from leaving domestic violence situations is lack of suitable housing options,” Kim says. “Many are forced to couch surf, live in their car or be homeless.”
Through the Core and Cluster model, CatholicCare is creating purpose-built housing options across the Central Coast and Northern Sydney, providing women and children with stability at a critical point in their lives.

Looking ahead

This International Women’s Day, CatholicCare reaffirms its commitment to supporting women not only to escape violence, but to recover, rebuild and move forward with dignity. The Core and Cluster model represents a shift towards housing that does more than respond to crisis. It creates space for healing, choice and long-term stability. It also offers a blueprint for how this work can be done well into the future.

“We want to show how this can be done well, with the hope that the government will continue to fund future programs in this type of area,” Kim says. At CatholicCare, we believe every woman deserves more than survival. She deserves safety, privacy and the chance to build a future on her own terms. This International Women’s Day, we are committed to creating housing and support that recognises women’s strength and empowers them to move forward with confidence.