International Women’s Day: Access to justice in practice
International Women’s Day 2026 is guided by the UN Women Australia’s theme Balance the Scales—a call to address persistent inequality and ensure justice is fair, inclusive and accessible for every woman and girl.
In the care and community services context, balancing the scales means looking beyond formal legal systems to the everyday realities that shape women’s lives. For many women, access to justice isn’t about courtrooms or legislation. It’s about whether they can keep a roof over their head, stay connected to power and gas, put food on the table, and make decisions about their lives without crisis driving every choice.
Across the UnitingCare network, organisations work every day at this frontline—supporting women when economic insecurity, trauma or sudden change threaten their stability and agency. Financial counselling and emergency relief are often the first point of contact, helping women navigate complex systems, advocate with service providers and creditors, and meet immediate needs so they can stabilise and plan their next steps.
UnitingCare Australia’s 2026-27 Pre-Budget Submission calls for Productivity with Purpose, advocating for productivity that is inclusive, future focused and fundamentally about enhancing wellbeing.
This advocacy, combined with the work of our network, is part of our commitment to balance the scales by making justice real, practical and grounded in dignity.
Creating space to recover and regain control
A woman in her early forties suddenly found herself without income, without support, and at real risk of losing the essentials she needed to live safely and with dignity.
After major back surgery, she was forced to leave her job and due to her visa status, she was not eligible for Centrelink. When her husband had to return overseas unexpectedly, financial support ceased, leaving her recovering alone and trying to manage a mortgaged home with no income.
By the time she reached out for financial counselling, the situation was urgent. There was no food in the house, her electricity and gas were at risk of disconnection, and mortgage arrears were increasing.
Emergency relief helped meet immediate needs. Hardship arrangements kept essential utilities connected, and with support she was able to negotiate a temporary pause on her mortgage repayments—giving her the breathing space she needed to recover without the immediate threat of losing her home.
With renewed confidence, she later advocated for herself to access her superannuation on compassionate grounds, restoring a sense of control over her financial future.
Rebuilding security and restoring agency
Another story comes from a young single mother with two children, navigating life after divorce, domestic violence and deep financial stress.
She relied on income support and limited casual work, had no access to child support, and carried a mortgage in her own name. At the same time, she was experiencing anxiety, depression and the impacts of recent physical abuse by her former partner.
When she sought financial counselling, she was overwhelmed. To cover essentials like food and petrol, she had turned to short‑term, high‑interest loans. Debts were mounting, and even basic household items felt out of reach.
Through financial counselling, her situation was addressed step by step. Interest and fees were paused, payment plans established, grants accessed and significant debts waived on hardship grounds. Emergency relief eased immediate pressure, while budgeting support helped her begin rebuilding savings.
She later reflected that navigating support systems or advocating for herself had felt impossible at the time—an experience shared by many women when instability and trauma leave little capacity beyond simply staying afloat. Having someone walk alongside her made the difference.