STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator CAROL BROWN (Tasmania) (13:15): I rise to speak about the Be Hers Foundation, an organisation doing important work with women and girls in our community. Recently I attended the Key to Freedom evening hosted by Be Hers in Hobart. The evening marked the launch of the Key to Freedom initiative, a fundraising campaign to support the Be Hers Hub and the work that happens through it.

It was a good opportunity to hear the CEO, Melody Towns, reflect on the organisation's growth and recognise the many people who have helped build and support it. Be Hers works with women and girls, including women from refugee, migrant and multicultural backgrounds. Many of the women who come through its doors have experienced isolation, uncertainty, discrimination or hardship.

Some are rebuilding their lives in a new country. Some are looking for work, confidence, connection or a safe place. That work is not always easy to describe in a single program title.

It is steady, careful and often challenging work. The Be Hers Hub gives women a place to come together, access support, take part in activities, meet mentors, learn new skills and build relationships. It is a place where women can be seen and heard.

For many people, that sense of belonging is not a small thing; it can be the foundation for everything else. It can help someone take the next step towards work. It can help someone feel less alone.

It can help someone connect with services, with neighbours and with a community that values them. That is what Be Hers brings to our community. Earlier in 2025 I had the opportunity to visit the Be Hers Hub.

I met members of the team and spoke with the women involved in the program. I also met Jida, one of the remarkable women connected with Be Hers. It was good to catch up with Jida at the Key to Freedom evening.

That visit from early last year stayed with me. It showed what the work of Be Hers looks like in practice: women coming together, sharing food, learning skills, meeting mentors and finding support. The Albanese Labor government is proud to support that work.

We have provided $300,000 in funding to Be Hers. This includes $200,000 for the Dream Again Mentoring Program, which supports refugees, migrants and at-risk women through mentoring and employment assistance. It also includes $100,000 for the Be Hers community connect hub, which helps strengthens intercultural connections with community activities, arts, sport and social connection.

The Key to Freedom material makes clear why this work is needed. It talks about creating pathways from vulnerability to safety, healing, employment, independence and freedom. That is a serious task, and it takes time, trust and consistent support.

It also points to the next stage of the Be Hers work, including the Dream Free cafe. I understand the cafe has now been approved and is aiming to open very shortly. The Dream Free cafe will give women the chance to learn in a supported setting, build confidence and gain experience.

For some it will be a step towards work, independence and a stronger connection to the community. In Tasmania community organisations do a great deal with limited resources. They often work quietly without seeking much attention, but their impact is significant.

Be Hers is one of those organisations. The Key to Freedom initiative asks the broader community to play a part in that work. It invites businesses, community leaders and supporters to contribute to the future of the hub and the women and girls it serves.

I acknowledge Melody Towns, Allison Levinson, Jida and the entire Be Hers team. I also acknowledge the mentors, volunteers, donors, supporters and community members who have helped Be Hers grow. I was pleased to attend the Key to Freedom evening and to recognise the contribution Be Hers is making in Hobart and across our Tasmanian multicultural community.