Tweed Shire Women and Children's Refuge was founded in November 1985 by a group of seven local women who together became the Tweed Shire Women's Refuge Collective. The intent was to submit for funding through the Supported Accommodated Assistance Programme, for the establishment of a Women's and Children's Refuge to support and empower women and children fleeing domestic violence.

The women were motivated to establish the refuge for a number of reasons:

  • Complete lack of Women's health and support service in the Tweed Shire
  • Tweed Shire had the second highest unemployment figures in the state
  • Lack of non-institutionalised options and support for women in a highly conservative rural area
  • Population growth rate of Tweed Shire 4.4% exceeding that of N.S.W 1.09% (Census 1981).

Statistics were gathered and support of local politicians and Council was canvassed. To support the statistics a domestic violence phone-in was conducted. To progress the vision of the Collective an application was made to integrate a Women's Refuge and Resource Centre in our application for funding. In January 1991 the Collective was notified that funding of $190,000 had been granted. This resulted in a coordinator being appointed and the adoption of the new incorporation name Tweed Shire Women's Service. Since 1997 the service has leased six houses from the Office of Community Housing.

TSWS provides a range of education groups to support and educate the community, these include:

  • Butterfly - a support group for women who have left domestic violence situations
  • Weekly children's Toy Library
  • Fun with Drums
  • Protective Behaviours for children
  • Domestic Violence Support
  • P5 & other parenting support
  • Seasons For Growth
  • Feelings, Loss and Grief
  • Women’s self development
  • Communication & boundaries
  • Absolutely Fabulous - Women's Self-Discovery Course
  • Sing & Grow
  • Menopause Education

TSWS also publishes a bi-monthly magazine called Femail, this has a distribution of 1000 copies per issue. We have had a number of “homes” over the years and are now situated on the corner of Prince and Nullum Street, Murwillumbah.