Charmian Clift Cottages

Charmian Clift Cottages was originally established in 1985 and funded by the Department of Health through the Women’s Health Unit and the Department of Community Services through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. The Cottages were closed in May, 2007.

In 2007 RFNSW accepted the opportunity to incorporate the Charmian Clift program into our service portfolio. RFNSW re-opened the service and resumed high standard service delivery to the identified target group. 

The Cottages offer stable supported accommodation for homeless women living with a mental illness and their dependant children. The facility also provides information, advocacy and referrals. Ongoing support is provided for ex-residents and their children once they move into the broader community.

Aims of the project:

• To provide safe and secure accommodation,
•  To enable women with mental health issues to become more independent,
•  To help them develop their living and parenting skills,
•  To enable them to become more aware of their illnesses and help prevent relapses,
•  To provide access to mainstream support for women with mental health issues and their children,
•  To promote a safe and stable home life,
•  To advocate on behalf of women with mental health issues and their children,
•  To provide a safe environment for mothers and their children,
•  To strengthen relationships between mothers and children,
•  To enhance children’s development by providing activities that meet their developmental needs,
•  To provide opportunities for mothers to gain greater understanding of their children’s communication and developmental needs,
•  To provide age appropriate activities that enhance the development of children,
•  To instil a sense of hope, self-confidence and self-esteem.

A team of support workers with specialist knowledge and skills provide a broad range of educational, vocational and disability support to meet the women’s complex needs. They also provide opportunities for mothers to discover their strengths as parents and how they can optimise the development of their children.

Individual support planning includes a variety of resources to ensure that clients (women and children) have access to the full range of services they require, using psychosocial programs focused on developing living skills, parenting skills and the maintenance of good health.

This project is funded by the NSW Department of Health through the Women’s Health Unit, and by the NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS) through the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).The purpose-built facility is maintained by the NSW office of Community Housing.

The cottages are named after Australian author Charmian Clift (1923-1969), who was born at Kiama, NSW. In 1943 she enlisted in Australian Women's Army and served with the 15th Australian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery in Sydney.

While editing an army magazine, she began to write and publish short stories, later joining Melbourne’s ‘Argus’ newspaper where she met the war correspondent George Henry Johnston whom she married in 1947.

Charmian Clift wrote four books that received glowing reviews in Britain and the USA. Although she remained relatively unknown in Australia, she became a columnist for the Sydney Morning Herald and the Melbourne Herald, until her death in 1969.

Click here to download our brochure

Charmian Clift Cottages

PO Box 64, Doonside NSW 2767

Hours: 24 hours support, 7 days a week

Tel: (02) 9622 3066

Fax: (02) 9831 1995