About Us
Women’s & Girls’ Emergency Centre is an independent community based service funded through the Department of Community Services.
Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre Inc. was established in 1977 as an initiative to address the needs of homeless women in the Sydney Inner City region. Jeannie Devine was the first Co-ordinator and was responsible for establishing the initial premises and service model.
The Centre was initially funded by four of the major charitable organizations, namely the Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Sydney City Mission and The Smith Family. Originally the Centre was located in the old Anthony Horden’s Building on Pitt Street as a one room shop front. The Centre moved to 190 Elizabeth Street approximately 12 years later.
In January 1985, government funding was granted as part of the Commonwealth/State Funding Agreement through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. From April 1987, Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre became an independently managed body, incorporated as an Association in January 1988.
In 1998, WAGEC moved to the premises at 177 Albion St, Surry Hills. The new premises enabled us to expand our services from a basic shop front, to a drop-in centre offering meals, showers, washing machines and day beds as well as information, referral and welfare services.
In 2007 WAGEC relocated to Riley Street upgrading facilities and increasing access for women to education skills and information technology.
| The following based on extracts from Jeannie’s story “My Incredible Journey Through The Homeless Scene” |
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| Jeannie’s youngest of six children was 3 weeks old when her husband was killed. She managed through part time work until he was 13 years old, when she collapsed, and broke her neck. Jeannie spent nearly 12 months in hospital. When she finally recovered she had become homeless. After leaving hospital Jeannie was sent to Samaritan House, then as now an inner city hostel for women in crisis. She weighed only 6 stone. She had never heard about refuges before, and stayed at Samaritan House for some time. During this time she met a variety of women from different backgrounds who had experienced violence, substance abuse, mental health disorders, imprisonment and who worked in the sex industry. In her memoirs she describes how much she learnt from these women about their lived experiences, and recalls prior to that, she had never realised these things were happening in the lives of women and girls. |
 Jeannie Devine |