Welcome to the Hobart Women’s Shelter.

Hobart Women's Shelter is the second-oldest operating women’s shelter in Australia. 

We provide safe, emergency accommodation and support to women and children affected by family violence and/or those experiencing homelessness. In addition, we provide medium-term accommodation (up to 2 years) for families.

We have 25 emergency accommodation units for women and children, supported by an administrative centre located on the same site. In addition, we have 7 units offsite which are larger with 4 and 5 bedrooms for families.

We have a mix of 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units, that are fully furnished, private, secure, clean, and comfortable. Each unit has a private bathroom and kitchen. We will supply you with the basic items to get you started e.g. bedding, towels, staple pantry items, and some toiletries.

Onsite there is a free communal laundry, a shared playground for children and an edible garden, and other areas where we run programs for women and children.

Your safety is our priority. Our shelter is secure, with a duress system, security cameras, and a staff member onsite 24/7 for emergencies. Our team is available to support you during the day.

Trauma-Informed principles underpin all that we do. These include safety, trust, empowerment, choice, and collaboration. We work with you and other services to help meet your individual needs. Some examples include support with securing longer-term housing, legal support, referral to mental health services and family violence and financial counselling, and information about education and employment services.

We offer a variety of therapeutic programs for women and children that aim to promote wellbeing and enhance self-esteem and confidence. We tailor our programs to meet your unique needs, strengths, and interests. 

Examples of programs include communal cooking and meals, mindfulness, sports, art, and pottery. We also offer after school and school holiday activities such as social circus, art, reading, and homework support groups.

Across Tasmania, we deliver Mentors in Violence Prevention Program (MVP) workshops. MVP provides skills to help end violence in our communities by helping us learn how to be effective bystanders.