Women Only Shifts

Women Only Services Provided by women, for women Supporting women experiencing homelessness or hardship with free laundry and a space to connect Orange Sky’s Women Only Services are focused on supporting women doing it tough with access to free laundry services and positive connection. Just like our regular Orange Sky services, we operate alongside another service provider with the aim of providing holistic support to those who need it. The 2021 Census recorded a staggering 20% increase in the number of Australian women experiencing homelessness. We recognise that there can be barriers for women attending our services, which is why we want to be there to support women at a location that’s safe, welcoming and familiar to them. How it works 1 Find our van or laundry pod through easy directions 2 Say hello to our friendly volunteers (all women!) who will help you pop your washing on 3 Sit and have a chat while you wait 4 Leave with fresh, clean laundry! General FAQs Do I need to make a booking? No, you don’t need to make a booking. Our shifts normally run for about two hours, and our volunteers will be there at the same time each week – so just come along! What happens when I arrive? Our friendly volunteers will meet you and help you pop your washing on. We have chairs to sit on if you want to stick around for a chat (which we love!) – otherwise you are free to leave and return before the end of shift to grab your washing. How do I find a Women's Only service location? You can find our upcoming Women’s Only shifts by using the Find a Service tool on our website: just look for shifts specifically labelled as ‘Women’s Only’. We also rely on our service provider partners (the organizations hosting the shift) to advertise these times locally. Please note: To ensure the safety and privacy of our friends, some Women’s Only shifts are ‘closed’ or private sessions and will not be listed publicly on our website. How long are you there for? We stay onsite for the shift that is advertised, which can be 2-3 hours depending on the location. How will you ensure that it's women only? Our Women Only Services are exactly that – run by women, for women. While we do everything we can to create a safe and inclusive space on shift, we operate alongside service providers where we can’t control who visits the location. We operate over 300 shifts across Australia each week, where anyone is welcome to attend and access our services. Why women only? We recognise that there can be barriers for women attending our services and there is benefit in providing a safe space for women to access free laundry and positive connection. Who provides the laundry detergent and washing basket? Orange Sky provides everything you need – just bring your laundry! Can I bring my kids? Kids are welcome on shift as long as they are supervised by an adult over the age of 18. Our Service Partners We are proud to have partnered with other organisations committed to supporting women who experience hardship Service Provider FAQs What is a Women's Only service? Orange Sky’s Women Only Service is a safe space for women to connect and access free laundry, operated by women volunteers. Connection is at the heart of what we do, and as Orange Sky evolves, we want to recognise, understand and overcome diverse barriers to using our services. Our aim with tailored service models is to ensure everyone can feel safe and supported while their washing churns in the background. What does being a service provider entail? Being a service provider is about providing a physical location where the Orange Sky team can operate our service. Service providers typically offer an aligned service to women doing it tough, such as food, clothing or counselling – and we bring our vans to y our existing community! We want to be there to support women in a space that’s safe, welcoming and familiar to them. What do you need from a service provider? There are a few things that would help us out: Some space for our van – usually 2 parking spaces is enough. Access to water and waste facilities Access to power Opportunity to promote the service through your networks How long will you stay on site for? We normally run shifts for 2-3 hours dependant on location. Do you provide laundry and showers? This depends on the location and if we have laundry and/or showers available. Contact us to find out what’s in your area. Where is the best place to have the van at our location? We know that many women who attend this type of service are seeking privacy and security. For this reason, we work closely with service providers to locate a private or separated space where women can feel safe, at ease and connected while on shift. Even if you’re not sure you have a space like this, we would still love to chat about your location and how we could help to meet the unique needs of women experiencing hardship in your community. Service Provider Testimonials Centre for Women and Co, Logan "The Orange Sky team were consistently reliable and welcoming, creating a positive and respectful atmosphere for all who engaged with the service. I appreciate the dedication and professionalism that your team brought to each shift, as well as the strong sense of community and support that was evident in your approach." Volunteer Testimonials Janine's Volunteer Experience A Bundaberg-based Shift Leader, Janine, shares that on Women's Only shifts, there's a strong sense of familiarity and trust. With the same group of volunteers showing up each week, friendships form and a safe space is created. She explains that she can see it in the small moments - when a friend arrives and heads straight to someone they had a great chat with last week, picking up right where they left off. How to become a volunteer Service Provider Testimonials DVCAS Newcastle "A huge shout out to the gorgeous volunteers involved in the Women's Only Shift provided by Orange Sky Laundry, they provide an invaluable service, always upbeat and super professional, this service is unique, inclusive and innovative, in an effort to truly support women." Interested in partnering with Orange Sky? We're on the lookout for new service partners committed to supporting women experiencing hardship. Submit an Expression of Interest Learn more about what we do Stories Ros’ Story Ros shared her powerful story with us, in her own words, shortly before she passed. It is our honour to keep her memory alive. Naomi The Motel Of A Million Stars Ros’ fierce independence and dedication to helping every person she came across, volunteers and friends alike, will go down in Orange Sky history. 18/5/24 A Mother’s Gift; Shared Understanding, Perspective & Connection Human connection is special and complex, but it often stems from the simplest things. In this case, it all started from a simple conversation on an orange chair in a park in Brisbane. 2/5/24 10 years of Orange Sky: A Decade of Connection 10 years of Orange Sky is a milestone, an opportunity to stop and reflect on the incredible impact we’ve been able to achieve, thanks to the unwavering support of our communities. Naomi Ros’ Story Ros shared her powerful story with us, in her own words, shortly before she passed. It is our honour to keep her memory alive. Naomi The Motel Of A Million Stars Ros’ fierce independence and dedication to helping every person she came across, volunteers and friends alike, will go down in Orange Sky history. 18/5/24 A Mother’s Gift; Shared Understanding, Perspective & Connection Human connection is special and complex, but it often stems from the simplest things. In this case, it all started from a simple conversation on an orange chair in a park in Brisbane. 2/5/24 10 years of Orange Sky: A Decade of Connection 10 years of Orange Sky is a milestone, an opportunity to stop and reflect on the incredible impact we’ve been able to achieve, thanks to the unwavering support of our communities. Naomi Explore more stories I want to... Use your service Learn more about how to use our service. Donate Help us support people doing it tough. Volunteer All it takes is a few hours of your time each fortnight to make a difference. Fundraise Raise awareness and funds for Orange Sky. 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