Since opening in 2023, BaptistCare’s Wright Place has supported more than 80 women to rebuild their lives, and there is growing momentum across the community to ensure this work continues. At a recent High Tea event, more than 150 people, including influential leaders, community members and women with lived experience, came together to highlight not only the impact of Wright Place, but the role we can all play in supporting women experiencing homelessness and housing instability

Hosted by Adelaide local Ali Clarke, the event created space for connection and important conversation, with a panel featuring leaders across housing and homelessness, including representatives from BaptistCare, the Toward Home Alliance, SA Housing Trust and the Centre for Social Impact at Flinders University. The discussion explored the challenges women face and the coordinated response needed to drive meaningful change

These insights were brought to life through the voices of women who have experienced Wright Place, as Melinda Rendell, BaptistCare’s Senior Manager, Pathways to Home and Healing, spoke to the service’s impact before interviewing past residents.
“Having a safe place to land can change everything,” Ms Rendell said. “Wright Place provides not just shelter, but the time, support and stability women need to rebuild their lives and move forward with confidence.”

Former resident Rhubee described Wright Place as a place of reflection and recovery.
“It was a place to collect my thoughts, get grounded and recognise the strength I have,” she said. 

Fellow former resident Andrea spoke about the importance of connection in rebuilding confidence and independence. “It’s the smallest things that made life feel normal again, even just conversations with other women,” she said. 

“A home isn’t just what we need. It’s connection, support and community that help people move forward and feel empowered again.”

These stories reflect the purpose and importance of Wright Place, a BaptistCare service providing short-term accommodation, case management and personalised support for women experiencing homelessness, financial hardship and housing instability.

To support the continuation of Wright Place and its associated services, a community-led initiative saw volunteers come together to design and build three handcrafted cubby houses, raising vital funds to support more women accessing the service.

The High Tea and cubby house initiative together raised more than $3000, with funds going directly to support women accessing Wright Place and the services that help them move toward stability and independence. 

At a time of increasing housing instability for women across South Australia, initiatives like this highlight the importance of community alongside services that provide sustained, person-centred support. 

Speaking at the event, Minister Katrine Hildyard highlighted the importance of safe housing for women rebuilding their lives. “A home is more than just shelter, it is a place where you can breathe and begin to rebuild, somewhere safe, warm and secure,” she said. “For too many women, that safety does not exist, and that is why services like Wright Place are so important.”  

Ms Rendell said the strong community response reflects a growing awareness of the challenges women face. “We still see significant stigma and misconceptions around the impact of domestic and family violence and homelessness on women in our community,” she said. 

“When the community comes together like this, it helps people better understand the challenges women are facing and why that support is so important. 

“Demand for services like Wright Place continues, and initiatives like this help us respond to that need.
“It means we can reach more women at the right time; with the support they need to move forward.” 

If you would like to help provide safety and dignity to women experiencing homelessness, donate to Wright Place today.