If you are in immediate danger, please call Police on 000.
Quick Exit 
If you do not feel safe in your relationship…
If you feel scared or have been hurt by someone you live with…
Talk to us, because
- Home should be a safe place and
- Relationship should be respectful.
- Every woman deserves a safe home.
- Speak Out and together, we can make a difference!
What can we do for you?
- We can speak to you in your own language.
If not, we will organise an interpreter for you, so that you can talk to us in your language.
- We understand the cultural barriers. We are empathetic and respectful. We will support you in culturally sensitive manner.
- We will guide you, show you how to navigate the system and complete the forms to seek support.
From our clients…
“I am independent and happy. I now have a job and I live in the City.
I can’t thank SpeakOut enough… They gave me a safe place to stay, organised to get work rights for me so that I could work, assisted me to get an AVO and even helped me with my residency application.”
“SpeakOut supported me when I was lost! I had to leave home due to domestic violence. Gradually with their help and support, I regained my self-esteem and my confidence. I have started working again. I am independent. I am happy. I now have a whole new life ahead of me!”
“I was the victim of domestic violence back in 2014. Now I am working in the financial sector as the Client relationship Executive. My son is now 10 years old.
Thank you SpeakOut! They helped me learn English, study further, be focused and confident. Without their support and guidance, we wouldn’t have survived. I would like to say a big thank you to my Case Manager, who looked after me really well.”
Our Vision
A society that values the rich and diverse contribution of immigrant and refugee women.
Our Values
Dignity
We uphold every woman’s right to dignity, choice and independence. We take a strength-based approach to empower immigrant women to speak, act and make choices with enhanced knowledge and confidence.
Respect
We operate on the principles of respect and anti-discrimination. We strive towards equality and equity for multicultural women by
- respecting their views and choices
- fighting for their rights
- challenging the stereotypes in mass media or other sectors of the community.
Safety
Women’s safety is our priority. We provide culturally safe and appropriate services to migrant and refugee women ensuring that in all aspects of our work, their rights and privacy are upheld.
Social Justice
We aim to break down the barriers that prevent immigrant and refugee women from participating fully in the Australian society.
Our Services
Homeless Multicultural Women Integrated Support Service (HoMWISS)
SpeakOut offers information, support and referral services to multicultural women experiencing domestic and family violence, who are or are on the verge of being homeless.
Multicultural Women’s Shelter
Multicultural Women’s Shelter provides crisis accommodation to single multicultural women (with no children) escaping domestic violence.
It is a safe place for women, who are on the verge of being homeless, and provides them security, hope and help to rebuild their self-esteem.
Immigrant Women’s Resource Centre (IWRC)
We organise a range of activities to promote community engagement, skills development and to reduce isolation. These also include initiatives for women to be financially independent.
Advocacy – Upholding your rights
We advocate for the rights of refugee and migrant women, representing their issues and ideas at all levels of government, community, media and the industrial sectors.
In 2023-2024, SpeakOut supported women from 40 different countries
HoMWISS
Number of clients who received support and guidance
2022-23: 192
2023-24: 206
SHELTER
Number of bed-nights
2022-23: 1,883
2023-24: 2,222
Resource Center
Number of clients participating in skills development/activities
2022-23: 698
2023-24: 1258
about us
Our Story
In March 1982, 300 women gathered in Sydney to speak out publicly on the issues affecting women of non-English speaking backgrounds. This led to the establishment of the Immigrant Women’s SpeakOut Association of NSW (SpeakOut) in 1985 and its incorporation in 1987.
These strong, visionary women realized, more than 40 years ago, that migrant women have specific needs and requirements. They need empathy, support and specialized organisations that understand their issues and provide assistance in culturally appropriate manner.
SpeakOut continues to have the same vision and is following the footsteps of these visionary women. SpeakOut is managed by migrant women for migrant women.
Immigrant Women’s SpeakOut Association NSW Inc. acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Burramattagal people of the Darug nation.
We pay our respect to their Elders past and present.