Winners of the 2025 Queensland Greats Awards at the award ceremony on 6 June in Brisbane. Image credit: State of Queensland.
The Lady Musgrave Trust has been named a 2025 Queensland Great by the Queensland Government, in recognition of its life-changing work supporting young women and their children experiencing homelessness across the state.
Established in 2001, the Queensland Greats Awards are presented annually by the Queensland Government to honour individuals and institutions whose contributions have shaped the state’s history, identity and community. On 6 June 2025, as part of Queensland Day celebrations, the Hon David Crisafulli MP, Premier of Queensland, officially presented the 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.
As Queensland’s oldest charity, The Lady Musgrave Trust has provided safe accommodation, vital services and practical resources to vulnerable young women since its founding in 1885. Originally established by Lady Jeanie Lucinda Musgrave, wife of the then-Governor of Queensland, the Trust was created to support young women arriving from overseas with no family, no job and nowhere to live.
Victoria Parker, CEO of The Lady Musgrave Trust, accepted the award on behalf of the Trust’s close knit community.
“This recognition is a tribute to every individual, volunteer, partner and supporter who has helped create a better, fairer Queensland for women and children in need. It is for the women who have received support through The Lady Musgrave Trust and transitioned to a future of prosperity and optimism,” she said.
“While we may be small in size, our impact is the result of countless people – past and present – who believe in the vision of safe, stable housing for every young Queensland woman.”
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.
This year’s Queensland Greats also included leaders and changemakers from across the state, including world cancer researcher Professor Jeffrey Dunn AO, employment advocate Sarina Russo AM, tourism pioneer Sir Frank Moore AO, philanthropist James Frizelle, health technology innovator Professor Mark Kendall and Mr David Elliott OAM, co-founder of the Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History.
Victoria said the recognition was a proud moment for the Trust and its community, but there was still much more to do.
“We remain deeply grateful for this recognition and committed to building brighter futures – one home, one opportunity and one life at a time.”
Each Queensland Great is commemorated with a bronze plaque in Brisbane’s Roma Street Parkland, a permanent tribute to their enduring impact on Queensland’s history.
To learn more about the previous recipients of the Queensland Greats awards and the process to nominate individuals and institutions, visit the Queensland Greats Awards page on the Queensland Government website.
