General News
22 August, 2026
Facelift for centre
THE Women’s Centre FNQ is marking 40 years of providing support and safety for women and children experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence.
The Women’s Centre in Manunda was born in the 1980s through the tireless dedication of a small group of feminists.
Their passion and hard work paid off when in mid-1986 the Women’s Information and Referral Centre, as it was then known, became incorporated.
The service has grown from a small shop front at Rusty’s Bazaar, providing safety information and self-help groups promoting women’s rights and health, into a thriving organisation with a range of programs and a large professional team providing support services that cut across the sectors of housing, violence against women and child protection.
The Tablelands service was established in 2013.
The service has two sites at 182 Gatton St, Manunda and 18 Beatrice St, Atherton.
Womens Centre FNQ CEO Nicole Dye said that for 40 years, the Women’s Centre FNQ “has stood beside women and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives”. “While we are proud of the lives we’ve helped change, our greatest ambition is a future where services like ours are no longer needed,” she said.
“Tragically, the reality for women and families at risk has not improved.
“Australia is experiencing increased rates of intimate partner homicides, increased demand for services to assist women and their children escaping violent homes, increased numbers of perpetrators being incarcerated and then re-offending on release and increased breaches of court protection orders”.
Chairwoman Jane Simpson applauded the commitment of highly-skilled staff offering support at both locations in the face of the relentless demand for safe options for families and individuals escaping domestic violence.
“Barriers to safety continue to include the lack of housing options and lack of ongoing counselling services to refer to,” she said.
This week, the Gatton St venue is getting a colourful makeover to promote a re-brand.
Ms Dye said with the help of Cairns She Shed volunteers, the front of the building received a paint job ready to launch the next 40 years of striving for a future where women can live lives free from violence.
