It will take more than 15 minutes in the media spotlight to raise public awareness around issues of concern to older women. You can catch us in action below!
After years living in her car, 85-year-old Vera found a place of her own
After nine years of renting, Victorian woman Vera* had spent most of her $120,000 in savings, and had no alternative but to live out of her car.
Photo: The Senior. Left picture by Adam McLean, inset by Unsplash
Program Marks Two Years
Two years ago, Homes for Older Women began with a simple but powerful idea: that older women in the Blue Mountains should not be left to face homelessness alone.
Construction underway on seniors public housing in Sydney's south-west, despite local opposition
New public housing units built specifically for seniors are under construction in Sydney’s south-west, despite opposition from some locals.
Housing Minister Rose Jackson says many of the new homes will go to women aged over 55, who are at risk of homelessness.
The Older Women’s Network NSW says increased building of affordable and social housing is vital.
Photo: ABC News: Liam Patrick
Resource to help 'invisible' victim-survivors of sexual abuse — older women
ABC News
Feb, 2026
A website to help frontline workers identify signs of sexual violence against older women is being launched. The resource comes as experts warn that reports of elder abuse are set to skyrocket over the next five years. The age discrimination commissioner says more awareness of the severity of elder abuse is needed in the community to curb the increase in such crimes.
Aged care reforms: Who will pay more under the new system?
SBS News
Nov, 2025
Podcast
A long-awaited Aged Care Act comes into force today (Nov 1), four years after a Royal Commission recommended major reforms to the sector. The federal government says it will give older Australians more choice and access to in-home support, but there are concerns that many people will end up paying more for care.
‘Pits dying people against right-wing religious views’
The Sydney Morning Herald
Oct, 2025
The push to change NSW’s euthanasia laws.
Older Australians to pay up to $50/hour for basic care at home under aged care changes
ABC News
September, 2025
The new Support at Home program introduces a co-payment system requiring older Australians, including full pensioners, to pay for “non-clinical” services like showering, dressing, and cleaning.
The Choir Using Music To Help Dementia Patients And Their Loved Ones
10 News +
Sept, 2025
The Great Day Choir meets every two weeks and uses music to help dementia patients and their loved ones. Anyone can join the group and perform songs that are specially curated in the hope that they will spark memories, lift spirits and create a lasting impact.
Standing room only for eye-opening Homelessness Forum
The Bugle
August, 2025
The issue of homelessness among older women – the fastest-growing demographic experiencing housing insecurity – recently took centre stage at Kiama Leagues Club.
The growing housing crisis no one talks about, and the women left behind
The Senior
July, 2025
After her marriage ended in 2019, it left Hollie Bregg with no money or superannuation and living “week to week”. But there’s plenty of other women walking in her shoes and Hollie wants the government to step up.
Their story, our crisis: shining the light on homelessness among older women
The Bugle
July, 2025
In a free event at Kiama Leagues Club on August 7, titled Her Story, Our Crisis: Homelessness Among Older Women aims to raise awareness of the plight of older women at risk of homelessness, and to foster conversation about this largely invisible issue in the Kiama regions.
Homes for Older Women (HOW) Chair, Bronwen Johnston talks with Hamish McDonald
702 ABC Radio, Sydney Mornings
July, 2025
Sky-high rentals and caravan parks force pensioner Susan Harvey to rent a room
The Senior
May, 2025
Australia’s sky-high property prices are a top issue in an election race dominated by cost-of-living concerns.
As Australia votes, a housing affordability crisis is top of voters’ minds
Aljazeera
May, 2025
Australia’s sky-high property prices are a top issue in an election race dominated by cost-of-living concerns.
Older women face growing insecurity as election targets young voters
ABC Radio National Breakfast
April, 2025
As the major political parties focus on attracting first-home buyers, older Australians, particularly women over 55, are feeling neglected in the election debate.
This culinary project is helping migrant women find connection through food
SBS Food
April, 2025
A series of cooking workshops are giving older women from migrant backgrounds a chance to share their recipes and food memories – and find community along the way.
‘A time of great anxiety’: renters fear surge in no-grounds evictions before NSW ban comes into force
The Guardian
April, 2025
Housing organisations welcome the new laws but are bracing for a spike in evictions before the change takes effect.
At 75, Shirley moved more than 500km to live in a share house
The Sydney Morning Herald
April, 2025
This “housing limbo” has seen a rise in affordable-housing alternatives, including programs that pair women in need with those who own property in a house-share arrangement. What starts as a financial solution to a problem often results in something just as beneficial: the joy and power of friendship.
"A seat on a train was my home"
The Saturday Telegraph
March, 2025
Older women are the fastest growing victims of homelessness in NSW, but an innovative scheme by a group of compassionate volunteers is giving them a roof over their heads and hope.
New research shows Australian retirees could become the richest in the world
SBS News
February, 2025
Australian retirees could become one of the richest groups in the world by 2031, according to new research by the Super Members Council. However, Yumi, CEO of OWN NSW, has been receiving growing calls from older women struggling with poverty. With low lifetime income levels and superannuation, many older women are struggling with housing and other daily costs. With less super, many older women rely on the Age Pension.
Gisele Pelicot's Aboriginal scarf a symbol of her global impact
BBC News, Dec 2024
Aussies 'honoured' Gisele Pelicot wore Aboriginal scarf
Illawarra Mercury, Dec 2024
Gisele Pelicot 'honoured' to wear scarf made by First Nations women
SBS NITV, Nov 2024
Gisèle Pelicot ‘honoured’ to wear scarf from Australian women’s group in court
The Guardian, Nov 2024
The Older Women's Network supporting French rape victim
ABC News, Nov 2024
Older Women’s Network and Dentons collaborate to help older women return to work
Women’s Tabloid
Nov, 2024
Dentons, in collaboration with OWN, has launched an innovative pilot program designed to assist women over the age of 50 in returning to work.
How to get lower rent: Aussie tenants and landlords get creative in the housing crisis
Domain
October, 2024
Three months ago, Karren, a 63-year-old Blue Mountains grandmother, faced homelessness. After losing her rental room, she found herself unable to afford the sky-high local rents.
Financial elder abuse is happening more than we know
Choice
October, 2024
Adult children attempting to take over the family home is just one of the many forms of financial elder abuse.
Saved from slipping through the housing cracks
Blue Mountains Gazette
August, 2024
At the age of 63, grandmother Karren couldn’t believe she faced the prospect of being homeless.
New Housing Initiative Offers Hope for Older Women
August, 2024
Bronwen Johnston, from Blue Mountains OWN, was interviewed by the Hawkesbury Post about the Homes for Older Women (HOW) program.
Winner of feminist 'Grand Stirrer' Award announced
ABC Radio Sydney
Nov, 2023
Older Women’s Network NSW chair, Beverly Baker, announces Sam Mostyn as the winner of the Edna Ryan Grand Stirrer Award 2023.
Women's inequality costs $128 bn per year
The World Today ABC
October, 2023
Older Women’s Network (OWN) NSW CEO talks to the inequality in our workforce.
'Do better' on affordable housing, NSW government urged, as Appin development exposes low commitment
ABC NEWS
July, 2023
Older Women’s Network (OWN) NSW chair Beverly Baker said she was dismayed by the target.
The aged care system has a number of problems. But there's one that has been silenced for too long.
May, 2023
When it comes to older Australians and the topic of sex and consent, Older Women’s Network’s (OWN) CEO Yumi Lee said it’s a topic we can find challenging to navigate.
Integrated care pathways for bone health in aged care settings: Australia
Economist Impact
Dec, 2022
Yumi Lee, CEO OWN NSW, adds her perspective into Aged Care and osteoporosis to a paper focused on applying insights into care pathways for bone health.
National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Recovery Alliance Conference
WINNEWS
May 4, 2023
Survivors of domestic violence are often forced to choose between living with abuse, or living in poverty. Experts and advocates from across Australia meet at the first National Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Recovery Alliance Conference in Wollongong.
Cooma locals say tasering of elderly woman 'disgusting', as police review footage
ABC NEWs
May 20, 2023
OWN NSW Chair, Beverley Baker, expresses her outrage that a taser was used against an elderly and frail woman.
‘We Are Invisible’: Why Older Women Need to Be Included in Conversations About Consent
Lifehacker
2 May, 2023
Yumi Lee on on why the series Asking For It on SBS is so important and why discourse on consent and sexual assualt should be an older person’s conversation too.
#OlderWomenCount campaign demands we must respect older women more
Hello Care
Mar 08, 2023
This International Women’s Day, artists and older people advocacy groups have banded together to start the #OlderWomenCount social media campaign, aimed to change culture, combat inequalities and promote respect for older women
Labor social housing bill not enough to address older women homelessness spike, advocates say
ABC NEWS
22 Feb, 2023
Yumi Lee is not satisfied with the housing options on offer.
Six Underrepresented, Unheard Voices In Australia’s Gendered Violence Problem
Elle Australia
27 April, 2022
In order to understand Australia’s sexual violence problem, we need to listen to all voices.
NSW govt declines shift on 'cruel' policy
APP
30 Jan, 2023
The NSW government has rejected a recommendation to lower its priority age for helping elderly homeless people, after an inquiry heard current policy settings are “cruel”.
Decades apart, Yumi and Ellie share a story — one that links them to millions of Australian women
ABC News
05 Dec, 2022
According to Australia’s first-ever 10-year scorecard on women’s health and wellbeing, Ellie and Yumi reflect two generations of women — aged 18-24 and 55-64 — who are experiencing some of the highest levels of psychological distress we’ve seen in this country.
Free art program for older women refugees to share tales of struggle
Local News Plus
Sept, 2022
The Older Women’s Network is currently hosting a free art workshop for older migrant or refugee women. The workshops are conducted by artist, activist, author and domestic violence survivor Amani Haydar.
New aged care charter protects elderly against sexual assault. Are you #ReadyToListen?
Aged Care News
30 AUG, 2022
Dr Catherine Barrett, alongside Yumi Lee, CEO of Older Women’s Network NSW, and the executive team of the Older Persons Advocacy Network (OPAN), has developed the Charter of Sexual Rights and Responsibilities as part of the ongoing #ReadyToListen campaign.
TACKLING THE HIDDEN PROBLEM IN OUR AGED CARE SYSTEM
Future Women
The Download
JUN, 2022
Speaking on Future Women’s weekly news segment the Download CEO of OWN NSW, Yumi Lee shared the reason she suspects sexual assaults in aged care go unreported.
Engaging Men and Boys: Ending Violence Against Women and Girl
CWF Forum
Jun 21, 2022
NOWN Ambassador, Shirley Randall, on the panel at the CHOGM meeting in Rwanda.
‘Shocking’ rate of sexual abuse of aged care residents barely changed since royal commission.
The Guardian
06 JUN, 2022
Peak rights group for older Australians, including OWN, demands urgent change after 530 incidents of sexual abuse reported in last quarter of 2021.
Elder abuse Forum
City of Parramatta Council
May, 2022
OWN NSW CEO Yumi Lee, seeks to inform on context and responses to elder abuse as a panel member at the forum.
“Not Having Enough Super Keeps Me Awake At Night”
TONIC
April, 2022
OWN NSW CEO Yumi Lee, tells TONIC Magazine what issues in the forthcoming election are important for her.
A race against time as Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill faces long list of amendments in the NSW upper house
ABC NEWS
May 18, 2022
Beverly Baker, Older Women’s Network Chair, states religious-based aged care providers should respect the wishes of residents.
Australian PM’s department drops widely mocked ‘phallic’ women’s network logo
The Guardian
March 15, 2022
National OWN describe the logo as “either thoughtless or an insult”
Elephant in the room: How do we prevent sexual assaults in aged care facilities?
HelloCare
Mar 22, 2022
Women’s rights advocate and CEO of the Older Women’s Network NSW, Yumi Lee, speaks out against sexual assault in aged care.
International Women’s Day 2022
YouTube
March 8, 2022
EveryAGE Counts discussion on Ageism and Women’s Rights featuring OWN NSW CEO, Yumi Lee.
'Insulting, out of touch': Australians lambast government's phallic Women's Network logo
SBS News
March 24, 2022
OWN NSW CEO, Yumi Lee, describes new logo for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Women’s Network as “ludicrous” and “insulting”.
Perrottet’s transport train wreck strands millions
City Hub
Feb 24, 2022
OWN NSW Chair Beverley Baker describes how the action of shutting down the rail system without notice was as an ‘unethical’ action that exposed many older residents.
Group of grannies become controversial MP's latest target
A Current Affair By Tanya Weingarth
Nov 12, 2021
Controversial MP Andrew Laming targets the Older Women’s Network NSW.
Amended NSW consent bill sent to house
7news.com.au by Hannah Ryan, Gina Rushton, Jack Gramenz
Nov 19, 2021
OWN NSW criticising the bill’s exception and warning it is too broad.
New guidance tool could see some aged care sexual assaults unreported for a month, advocates say
ABC NEWS | The World Today by Sally Sara and Scott Mitchell
October 7, 2021
OWN NSW Manager, Yumi Lee, spoke to the issues within the Aged Care Safety and Quality Commission’s Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) tool.
Coffs Harbour Older Women’s Network Group hits a milestone first year of operation.
Coffs Coast News Of The Area
October 29, 2021
by News Of The Area
Coffs Harbour Older Women’s Network (CH OWN) group one year on!
"Ways to tackle homelessness among women over 50 in our regions."
The Examiner
Sept 20, 2021
OWN NSW manager, Yumi Lee, spoke to the Examiner about the launch of a specialist housing service for older people to help tackle homelessness.
The road to resilience - Life lessons in disaster recovery for older Australians
Australian Association of Gerontologists (Recording of the Virtual Event)
July 27, 2021
Professor Paul Arbon in a panel discussion with Aged and Community Services Australia, CEO, Pat Sparrow and Chair of Older Women’s Network NSW, Beverley Baker, to consider learnings for older people and the aged care system. Click here
“Intervention focus needed to stop male violence in the home.”
Central News UTS Journalism Lab
July 26, 2021
Student journalist, Emily Roux, published an article about coercive control and men’s behavioural change quoting segments of a panel hosted by OWN NSW in June, ‘Insidious entrapment: understanding coercive control’.
“WHY WE’RE MARCHING — AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN”
MSN News
March 15, 2021
OWN NSW Chair, Beverly Baker and Manager, Yumi Lee interviewed in Canberra on why they attended the March4Justice event.
'It's hard to get work when you're older': Ageism in the workplace
SBS Insight
July 27, 2021
OWN Newtown Wellness Centre member Kate Rowe appeared on SBS Insight to share her story of retirement.
How much money do you need to retire? The answer depends on one big thing.
June 15, 2021
CARING FOR AGEING PARENTS
Insight, SBS, S2021 E11
May 26, 2021
The majority of older Australians want to remain in their own home as they age but many will need assistance to do that successfully. OWN NSW Chair, Beverly Baker, appeared on Insight to discuss caring for ageing parents. She appeared because she’s angry about the state of aged care in Australia because she knows first-hand how it can strip the dignity of older people.
"Australians react to big spending budget"
ABC TV 7:30 Report
May 12, 2021
OWN NSW Project Manager, Christine Hall, was interviewed on the 7:30 report with her father, Brian Kelly and discussed where the system failed with his home care package.
Spotlight on Aged Care
Q+A, ABC
February 25, 2021
Yumi Lee OWN NSW Manager appeared on the programme and asked: Following the revelation of Ms Brittany Higgins, the spotlight is now on Parliament House and the culture which silences women who have experienced abuse and sexual assaults. And rightly so. There are about about 50 cases of sexual abuse in aged care per week. Why is there no outrage about this cold, hard fact? Why isn’t anyone held to account? Have we as a community decided that older women don’t count, and don’t matter?
Ageism in the workforce
Q+A, ABC
March 4, 2021
Beverly Baker OWN NSW Chair asked: I’m 70 & I still work in paid employment. I’m fortunate because the reality is employers don’t want to hire older people, as the Australian Human Rights Commission confirmed in a research study. With so many older women like me still able and wanting to work, how can we encourage businesses to hire older women when they believe women over 50 are “too old” & not worth hiring?
"Older women balancing resilience and trauma"
Canberra Weekly, Cassandra Power
October 17, 2020
About Us
Find Out More About Our History.
Older Women’s Network NSW
The Older Women’s Network in NSW believes in a society rich in social capital, where mutual respect and trust are paramount, where diversity and debate are valued and where people and their networks have a legitimate voice.
CONTACT US
Older Women’s Network NSW
8-10 Victoria Street,
Newtown NSW 2042, Australia.
+61 – 2 – 9519 8044
Newsletter
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.
We acknowledge the sorrow of the Stolen Generations and the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
OWN NSW supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the call for a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Australian Constitution and a Makarrata Commission to oversee agreement-making and truth-telling.