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The Handy Guide of Women's Support Services

An information and service directory for Queensland women in need.

The Handy Guide of Women's Support Services

An information and service directory for Queensland women in need.

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About The Handy Guide

Providing support services for women in need.

Since 1885, The Lady Musgrave Trust has been helping young Queensland women to transform their lives. As well as providing safe and supportive housing for these women, The Trust works to solve the problems that lead to homelessness in the first place, including domestic and family violence. 

The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services, a user-friendly information and service directory for women at risk, is key to the Trust’s preventative approach to women experiencing homelessness.

The most highly regarded directory of its kind for Queensland women in need, The Handy Guide is used by organisations that support women – community centres, legal services, homelessness and housing services, hospitals, correctional facilities – as well as family and friends who are concerned for a woman in their life. 

The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services provides details for a range of vital services for women, including:

  • Accommodation providers, including emergency accommodation, short and long-term accommodation units and housing services
  • Food and welfare services, including food vans, kitchens, laundries, showers and Centrelink
  • Support centres, including Drop-in Centres, Community Centres, and Assessment and Referral Services
  • General information enabling referral to appropriate health services
  • Legal assistance for domestic and family violence, tenancy/housing problems, and victims of crime
  • Community and specialist services for domestic violence, family assistance, and immigration and migrant support
  • Facilities such as public libraries, free transport (exclusively in the Brisbane and surrounds edition) and toilets

The 2024-2026 editions of both the Brisbane and surrounds, and the Regional Queensland Handy Guides, are free to order using the links below.

Thanks to funding from the Queensland Community Foundation and a project with the Small Steps 4 Hannah Foundation, an online version of The Handy Guide is now available.

This online resource gives Queensland women access to up-to-date information and tools so they are able to better understand their relationship and housing situation; as well as search for community organisations and services that can support them. It combines the information available in the hard copy Handy Guides, and is regularly updated.

The Handy Guide for Older Women is now also available on the new website as well as a section to assist women experiencing domestic and family violence. 

Information for Service Providers

The information contained in the online Handy Guide has been developed in consultation and in partnership with large numbers of individuals and community organisations across Queensland. If you would like to contribute content to the Handy Guide please get in touch with us at orders@ladymusgravetrust.org.au. The directory search data is provided and kept current by Infoxchange Service Seeker.

The Lady Musgrave Trust is pleased to provide free copies of The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services to individuals and organisations. 

Orders are now open for the 2024-2026 Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Redlands Coast edition. The hard copies of the Guide are complimented by the online edition, which is regularly updated and expanded as required.

Digital downloads are available on request.

The Lady Musgrave Trust is pleased to provide free copies of The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services to individuals and organisations.

Orders are now open for the 2024-2026 Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Redlands Coast edition. The hard copies of the Guide are complemented by the online edition, which is regularly updated and expanded as required.

The Lady Musgrave Trust is pleased to provide free copies of The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services to individuals and organisations. The 2024-2026 Regional Queensland edition covers: 

  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba & The Darling Downs
  • Cairns
  • Townsville
  • Ayr, Bowen & Whitsunday
  • Mackay
  • Rockhampton
  • Gladstone
  • Bundaberg
  • Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay & Maryborough)
  • Kingaroy
  • Maranoa & South West QLD
  • Mount Isa, Longreach & Central West
  • Cape York
  • Torres Strait

The hard copies of the Guide are complimented by the online edition, which is regularly updated and expanded as required. 

Digital downloads available on request.

The Lady Musgrave Trust is pleased to provide free copies of The Handy Guide of Women’s Support Services to individuals and organisations. The 2024-2026 Regional Queensland edition covers:

  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba & The Darling Downs
  • Cairns
  • Townsville
  • Ayr, Bowen & Whitsunday
  • Mackay
  • Rockhampton
  • Gladstone
  • Bundaberg
  • Fraser Coast (Hervey Bay & Maryborough)
  • Kingaroy
  • Maranoa & South West QLD
  • Mount Isa, Longreach & Central West
  • Cape York
  • Torres Strait

The hard copies of the Guide are complemented by the online edition, which is reguarly updated and expanded as required.

Digital downloads are available on request.

The Handy Guide for Older Women is available now on the Housing Older Women’s Support Services (HOWSS) website

The purpose of the guide is to educate, inform and empower older women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; support their self-determination; and connect them with essential services.

We will be continuing to provide support to young Queensland women and children, while Footprints Community takes ownership of supporting older women at risk of homelessness by developing The Handy Guide for Older Women and empowering these women to access housing options and support.

The Handy Guide for Older Women is available now on the Housing Older Women’s Support Services (HOWSS) website

The purpose of the guide is to educate, inform and empower older women who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; support their self-determination; and connect them with essential services.

We will be continuing to provide support to young Queensland women and children, while Footprints Community takes ownership of supporting older women at risk of homelessness by developing The Handy Guide for Older Women and empowering these women to access housing options and support.

You can help us provide safe secure housing for Queensland women.