Global Sisters’ Geelong project helps abuse survivors like Diana Connell

Diana Connell was left homeless and in debt after fleeing an abusive relationship while battling cancer. A new Geelong project is offering women in such situations hope.

Diana Connell. Picture: Alan Barber

Diana Connell was left homeless and in debt after fleeing an abusive relationship while battling cancer.

Ms Connell lived in her car with her son and daughter for six months in 2014 after she was kicked out of her home and then spent years in temporary accommodation.

During this time she was battling lung cancer and using a feeding tube.

She said her ex-husband left a “massive debt” in her name and kept everything, apart from a vehicle which Ms Connell was able to get back after she left.

“We floated around and he would track us down so we would have to move again,” she said.

Ms Connell is a candidate for a trial of modular homes in Geelong which will provide affordable living for at-risk women.

She works as an advocate for women’s safety and is passionate about more advocacy coming from lived experience, and communities supporting each other.

Ms Connell said the lasting impacts of domestic violence extended further than mental health challenges and PTSD, and she now battles auto-immune disease lupus.

She was diagnosed with cancer again this year.

After having a mastectomy in September for breast cancer and preparing for surgery, chemotherapy and radiation to remove a tumour in her leg, Ms Connell hopes she will soon be cancer-free.

“We know stress causes massive effects on body and we experienced years of stress,” she said of her more than 20 years with her ex-husband.

“When our health starts breaking down its an awful reminder of what we went through.”

Diana Connell, a candidate for a ‘Little Green House’ and Narelle Arthur who will be heading up Global Sisters’ Geelong hub. Picture: Alan Barber

Ms Connell is from New Zealand and wasn’t able to become a citizen until August, 22 years after moving to Australia.

“There’s always a lot more to it than ‘why don’t you leave’,” she said.

“We had no income and that’s a massive issue for affordable housing when you can’t come up with any funds.

“The other consequence of moving is that you lose your community, and we have no family here.

“I lost my friends, so did the kids and it’s like death of your life so if we can somehow stop that it’s all I want to do for the rest of my life.

“Every time you have to move you also grieve again because it's a reminder of being kicked out.”

Ms Connell is now working with Global Sisters, a not-for-profit which is starting a pilot program in Geelong to build small, energy-efficient modular homes in regional locations with low-interest mortgages for at-risk women.

She will be a candidate a “Little Green House”.

“Normally there would be no way for me to own my own home,” she said.

“To show how affordable they will be a woman with two children on family benefits will be able to own one of these houses and pay it off.

“I want to lend my voice whenever I can so no one else goes through what I did.”

The Global Sisters team is exploring options for land to build the Little Green Houses on and plans for the program to begin next year.

Founder and chief executive Mandy Richards said Geelong was the perfect location to launch the program and set a new standard for affordable housing.

“We know the affordable housing system isn’t working for many women who have been locked out of traditional home ownership, and we’re providing a direct solution by putting

homes — and assets — into the hands of those who need them most,” she said.

“The fundamental piece in women’s economic security before income generation is stable housing and ultimately financial assets.”

Render of a 'Little Green House' designed by Global Sisters to help at-risk women access housing.

Ms Richards said team members would also be on the ground in Geelong launching

a place-based business support hub in early 2025, specifically designed to support women rebuild their lives after domestic violence.

In 2022-23 there were 2373 homeless women in Greater Geelong, five in Queenscliffe and 96 in the Surf Coast.

Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale said it was unacceptable thousands of women in Geelong and surrounds experienced homelessness.

“Too often these women and their children are trying to escape family violence, which puts them in the dangerous position of having to choose between shelter and safety,” she said.

“Geelong urgently needs more public and community housing to safely house women.”

For a confidential information, counselling and support service contact 1800RESPECT or visit 1800respect.org.au.

Originally published as Global Sisters’ Geelong project helps abuse survivors like Diana Connell