Our Impact
Real homes. Real change for women and children.
Our Impact
Real homes. Real change for women and children.
Every day, The Lady Musgrave Trust supports young women and their children who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness to secure safe housing and avoid returning to crisis.
Our impact is delivered through safe housing, wraparound support and strong partnerships that help women maintain tenancies, navigate complex systems and move out of homelessness for good.
Our approach is evidence-based and outcome-driven. We focus on providing:
- Stable and safe housing
- Access to education and employment
- Support to navigate complex service systems
These are the building blocks of long-term safety, wellbeing and independence.
Our goal is for every tenant to successfully transition into private rental housing – with the life skills and support networks to maintain it.
Victoria Parker Chief Executive Officer The Lady Musgrave Trust
What we delivered in the past year
$8.6 million
total economic impact from buying and building (FY25).
$1.2 million
economic benefit from housing with support (FY25).
Progressed 2 development projects
in 2025 that will create approximately 21 new homes.
Purchased 2 new properties
in the Brisbane region, growing our capacity to support more women and children.
Provided close to 12,000 nights
of accommodation.
Made available 16
accommodation units.
Subsidised more than $90,961 in rent
for Queensland women and children.
Held our 17th Annual Forum in August 2025
bringing together sector partners, community leaders and supporters to strengthen collaboration and focus on solutions for young women and children experiencing homelessness.
Board members, corporate partners and the community contributed
hundreds of volunteer hours, from event support to sorting and wrapping Christmas Hampers.
Continued to include the voices of women with lived experience
in shaping our strategy, services and housing.
Marked the first anniversary of Jinndii Waijung
(“Mother’s Nest” in Yugambeh language), our purpose-built housing-with-supports project, which is already inspiring further developments in the pipeline.
Completed our first social return on investment (SROI) analysis
Secured Queensland Government funding commitment
for a significant redevelopment in Ipswich and strengthened relationships to help expand our impact.
Deepened partnerships
with Morgans, BDO, Hand Heart Pocket, HopgoodGanim, Ray White, Leading Ladies of Real Estate, Corporate Travel Management and Lady Bowen Trust.
Secured funding for a three-year longitudinal evaluation from the Paul Ramsey Foundation
to work in collaboration to understand what works and share evidence with the sector.
Expanded the organisation structure
to build capability and capacity for growth.
Began the process to become a registered community housing provider
a key step toward greater governance maturity and long-term capacity.
Expanded individualised case management across the full portfolio
with thanks to YFS at Jinndii Waijung, ICYS at South Street, and Brisbane Youth Service in Brisbane, with consistent tenancy management from CCHSL underpinning all programs.
The Social Return on Investment (SROI) figures presented are based on an economic impact analysis prepared by Urban Advisory, the consultancy led by the Chair of The Lady Musgrave Trust’s Board. The analysis was conducted using an independent and rigorous methodology, drawing on publicly available data and standard economic modelling assumptions. The SROI estimates include direct, flow-on and avoided cost impacts and are indicative only. They represent an estimate of broader societal value and are not a measure of The Lady Musgrave Trust’s audited financial performance or a guarantee of future outcomes. Actual outcomes may vary depending on individual circumstances and external factors. This calculation will be refined over time as further evaluation data on the Trust’s outcomes becomes available.
On 6 June 2025, as art of Queensland Day celebrations, the Hon David Crisafulli MP, Premier of Queensland, officially presented the Queensland Greats (Institution) award to The Lady Musgrave Trust.
In receiving this honour, The Trust joins the ranks of Queensland icons, past and present, who embody the state’s spirit of resilience, identity and community strength. In its 140-year history, The Lady Musgrave Trust has helped nearly 15,000 women and children into safe, supported housing, provided over one million nights of accommodation, and connected thousands more to critical services and resources through The Handy Guide, a comprehensive directory that helps vulnerable women in crisis access support, including emergency accommodation. The Lady Musgrave Trust is very proud of this recognition of the work of our partners, supporters and volunteers in combating homelessness.
Housing that supports recovery and stability
Our supported housing model gives women and children more than a roof over their heads – it gives them a foundation to heal, grow and thrive.
Each woman we support is on her own journey, but the outcomes speak for themselves:
- Increased wellbeing and confidence
- Stronger connections with employment and education
- Greater engagement with community and support services
- Safer futures for the next generation
Why this work matters
Domestic and family violence is the number one driver of homelessness for women and children in Australia. The need is urgent – and growing.
- Family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children in Australia.
- Approximately 1 in 4 Australian women (23%) have experienced violence by an intimate partner since the age of 15.
- Around 10,000 women in Queensland are homeless at any given time.
- The risks, housing insecurity and poverty women experience after leaving violence often result in them returning to a violent partner.
- Females make up 44.1% of all people experiencing homelessness in Australia.
- In 2023, Queensland Police responded to approximately 192,000 domestic and family violence occurrences, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.
Homelessness doesn’t discriminate. Most women who experience domestic and family violence are employed. Many are mothers. All deserve safety and support.
Help us expand our impact
We’re expanding access to safe housing, supporting more women and creating real pathways out of homelessness.
The Cost of Inaction
Our community needs to raise our commitment to ensuring that affordable housing is available to all as a basic human right.
Failure to act to solve homelessness will cost the Australian community $25 Billion per year by 2051.
Increased unstable housing costs impacts on companies/businesses’ ability to find, train and retain staff.
The costs to society of housing instability include:
- Entrenched inter-generational disadvantage
- Domestic and family violence, costs and suffering associated with crime
- Wasted opportunity costs associated with underutilised human capital
- Lack of education benefits
- Under-realised labour market productivity