Glen for Women marks first year with strong outcomes

The Glen for Women transition program has marked one year since welcoming its first clients in May 2025, reporting gains in housing, training and employment outcomes following funding support from the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation (ILSC).

Established on Darkinjung Country in Wyong, NSW, after over $2.7m in ILSC funding, the Glen for Women Transition House opened in May 2025 as a dedicated, Aboriginal community-controlled transition centre supporting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous females.

According to the organisation, 26 clients have taken part to date. Of those, 70 per cent have found suitable housing, 86 per cent have completed a certificate and seven women have secured ongoing employment.

Key Points

The program received the 2025 First Nations Health Award at the 2025 Primary Care Quality and Innovation Awards, which recognise outstanding organisations, clinics and service providers. The Glen for Women described the centre’s first year as building momentum around connection, truth telling and hope.

Cultural model and services

The Glen for Women provides safe housing along with job-skills training, employment opportunities and social support services.

Its model centres Indigenous culture through dance, visits to significant sites, traditional cooking, storytelling and craftsmanship. This approach, the organisation said, fosters a sense of communal belonging and emphasises connection to land, ancestry and Indigenous identity.

Clients are also encouraged to draw inspiration from the lived experiences of Aboriginal Elders who have overcome substance abuse problems.

Client testimonies highlighted the program’s focus on safety, cultural reconnection and practical steps toward independence, including study, work readiness and regaining a driver’s licence. The organisation stated that the stories within the centre are often challenging but underscored the faith and resilience displayed by the women participating.

“The Glen for Women didn’t just help me heal; it held me when I couldn’t hold myself. It loved me back to life. It helped me understand who I am, and how to reconnect with culture. […] Because of this incredible place, I am no longer just surviving, I am living a life that finally feels worth living.”

-  KP

Governance, funding and outlook

The Glen Group oversees Gulgul Nyugang Aboriginal Corporation and Ngaimpe Aboriginal Corporation, which jointly manage The Glendrug and alcohol rehabilitation centres for both men and women.

The Glen for Women transition program replicates the organisation’s established rehabilitation and transition program for Aboriginal men, known as The Glen for Men, which has been operating for over 16 years. The initiative for The Glen for Women began with Ngaimpe AC in 2018 through the establishment of a Women’s Community Advisory Committee to address drug and alcohol issues among Indigenous women.

Over $2.7 million in funding from the ILSC assisted The Glen Group in acquiring the transition property. The organisation reported that the total project investment for The Glen for Women rehabilitation centre and transition house was $9,042,000.

“The Glen for Women transition program is a beacon of hope for Indigenous women,” Joe Morrison , ILSC CEO said.

“Hearing some of the womens testimonies is both impactful and inspiring. […] The ILSC is proud to have played a part in the Glen for Womens journey and wishes all its participants many successes for the future.”

The organisation characterised the Glen for Women as a breakthrough, stating it aims to leave a legacy and bring positive change to many lives. One year on from opening its transition house, the program’s reported outcomes in housing, training and employment, along with its award recognition, underline the centre’s first-year trajectory on Darkinjung Country.