Empowering Queensland Women’s grants making a difference

Women across Queensland have access to more support than ever, with Round 2 of the Empowering Queensland Women grants program.

A total of $270,000 in grant funding is available for organisations - up to $10,000 per applicant to support events and programs for women, including financial literacy, delivering training programs and creating women’s networking and leadership opportunities.

Broken to Brilliant, a not-for-profit charity established by domestic violence survivors to mentor other survivors to re-establish successful lives, received a grant in Round 1, allowing them to expand their workshops to North Queensland.

Karen Lindsay, Director at Broken to Brilliant spoke to us about the impact of the grant, their proven track record of delivering the Financial Superwomen workshops and how the expansion is going.

Q: How do you feel about receiving the grant?

A; We are elated that we received this funding. We can’t wait to introduce this proven formula of the Financial Superwomen Workshop to the North Queensland centres.

Q. How long as Broken to Brilliant being running?

A; Broken to Brilliant was founded in December 2015, the Charity launched in May 2016 with our first book of the same name Broken to Brilliant. We are a proud survivor-led charity with our work guided by a pay-it-forward model of mutual rehabilitation, where survivors who have progressed in their recovery mentor and support others earlier in the journey. We are driven by a passionate team of volunteers and professionals who are committed to empowering individuals and families impacted by domestic violence.

Broken to Brilliant has over 20 survivor-led programs that support long-term recovery after domestic violence. Our programs help reform responses to abuse, nurturing healing through creative, nature-based, equine assisted and narrative therapies, rebuilding financial independence and stability, improving legal literacy and give survivors back their voice. We are meeting our mission of survivor mentoring fellow survivors to recover, heal and rebuild their lives.

Q: Can you tell us more about the Financial Superwomen program?

A; I was driven to make a difference. To help women in domestic violence and coercive control situations break free. I had financial skills through my accounting qualifications and experience. I knew that financial insecurity kept women and children in unsafe situations. As a result the Financial Superwomen workshop was born.

The Financial Superwomen workshops are available online or face-to-face in either Southeast Queensland or in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. During these face-to-face workshops the participants are able to have group or one-on-one discussions with experts in a variety of fields that mainly relate to money or finance. The aim is for participants to feel supported and safe to ask as many questions as possible.

We want to help the cohort of domestic and family violence survivors gain confidence with their decision making around their finances, as this is often one area where the perpetrators maintain control. Domestic Violence Survivors mentoring fellow survivors to recover, heal and rebuild their lives.

Q: How many women has Broken to Brilliant helped through programs like Financial Superwomen?

A; Since the first workshop in October 2020 in Cleveland, 553 women have attended face-to-face workshops in and around Southeast Queensland, the outer suburbs of Melbourne or from their own homes via online. We understand that many women take their learnings and share them with their family and friends so we believe the impact is greater than this.

We are proud to share that we have helped several women buy a home - when they really felt this would never be a reality. We have also helped one woman have her tax debt cleared, others have received career coaching or business coaching or simply feel confident with a budget.

Q. Do you have any advice to women and girls who are domestic violence survivors and may need support?

A: The first thing is, you are not alone. There are many crisis-based support agencies or organisations that you can reach out to you in your local area - police, community centres and even your local bank. If you would like to increase your knowledge and confidence around your financial situation, you can visit our Financial Superwoman website and register for the workshop.

Q: What is happening with the program in North Queensland?

A: There are different higher risks for regional and rural women experiencing domestic and family violence. The aim of running the three workshops in June in Townsville, Airlie Beach and Mackay is to share and duplicate the proven workshop formula in these regional areas. By linking in with the local financial and business professionals and sharing with them this proven program we are enhancing supporting the existing local services and responses. If there is anyone reading this who would like to volunteer their expert knowledge and time – please feel free to reach out to us at contact@brokentobrilliant.org

More information about the Empowering Queensland Women grant program

Empowering Queensland Women grants are one-off grants of up to $10,000 supporting community groups and organisations across Queensland to develop and deliver initiatives that align with the Queensland Government’s strategic priorities for women and girls.

Visit https://www.women.qld.gov.au/eqw for more information and to find out how to apply. Applications close Monday 13 April 2026.