News: Wrapping up Birthday Month at Protea Place

2 October 2024

A Heartfelt Thank You and a Call to Action.


Birthday Month at Protea Place Women's Support Centre was a whirlwind of celebrations, thanks to the incredible support from our community. We're so grateful for all the well wishes, donations, and kind gestures that made this month so special.

andrew wielandt

We were also thrilled to announce it when we received a one-off grant from the state government  (Stephen Miles) to help keep our doors open. While this is a significant boost, we know that it's only a temporary solution. Our long-term future depends on securing recurrent funding.


We're calling on our BOTH sides of Government to make a PUBLIC commitment to supporting Protea Place. Behind-the-scenes promises are NOT ENOUGH. We need to see concrete actions and a clear commitment to funding our vital services.


Quote from Andrew Wielandt:

"Whilst it was great to hear the news that the Queensland Government has provided funding of $636 108 (but who is counting …) to help fund Protea Place, it is frustrating beyond belief that Amanda and her team as well as Megan O'Shannessy and the Protea Place management committee has to spend so much time with fund raising and advocacy, rather than focusing on their core business - supporting women in need.


As a community, we need to be holding David Crisafulli MP Trevor Watts and David Janetzki MP as well as the Labor candidates for Toowoomba North and South to account for long term funding for Protea Place in the upcoming election campaign. With the Queensland economy worth $503 billion (that’s $503 000 000 000 000) in size and knowing the scourge that homelessness & domestic violence is, we as a community simply need to do better in supporting people like Amanda and her team to help those in their time of need."

- Andrew Wielandt, Protea Place 2024 Community Champion


Let's work together to ensure that Protea Place can continue to provide safe, supportive housing and essential services to women in need.


Your support is invaluable.

A man and a woman are standing next to each other in front of a building.

Important Update: Louise Hunt

22 April 2025
It is with the heaviest of hearts that we, the Protea Place team, try to articulate the profound sadness and grief we feel at the loss of our beautiful friend, Louise Hunt. Today, standing alongside Mayor Geoff McDonald , we struggled to find words adequate to express the devastation that has gripped our community. The raw emotion and visible distress of our Mayor spoke volumes about the impact Louise had on everyone who knew her.

Thanks to the Toowoomba Community

15 April 2025
MASSIVE SHOUTOUT: Celebrating Our Amazing Local Supporters! Today, we want to shine a light on the incredibly generous and supportive local businesses who are the backbone of Protea Place, helping us make our everyday operations possible. Many of these wonderful businesses have been with us since we opened our doors in 2019 and continue to stand alongside us in unwavering support of our community. From having 100% of our rent covered by the incredible TUFF Australia , to the beautiful complimentary floral arrangements provided by Floral Image Ipswich & Darling Downs , every single contribution is deeply valued and treasured.
A group of women are posing for a picture on a balcony.

Thanks to Lou's Place

8 April 2025
Huge thanks to Lou's Place ! Six years ago, in our early days of dreaming and building Protea Place, we journeyed to Sydney to visit the incredible Lou's Place . It was the closest model we could find to the vision we held, a beacon of hope in action for vulnerable women. We spent a day surrounded by kindred spirits – women utterly devoted to creating a better world. We spoke the same language, shared the same unwavering determination, and knew we had found our tribe. [ Link to ABC Compass story about Lou's Place ] Lou's Place generously shared their invaluable knowledge, learnings, and insights from their many years of incredible work. While six years have brought changes – a move to a new home in Redfern and the natural evolution of staff – the bond forged that day remains a cherished part of Protea Place's history. Amanda D, Jacqui, and Amanda T made that crucial trip possible six years ago, allowing the Toowoomba Women's Collective to learn from Lou's Place's 20 years of impactful work. We continue to admire your vital work in providing a safe and non-judgmental space for women in crisis. Thank you for your pioneering spirit and for showing us what's possible!