The need for The Queen’s Fund has never been greater

We are pleased to release the 136th Annual Report for The Queen's Fund for the financial year 1 May 2022 to 30 April 2023. Inside, you will find a summary of the assistance we provided to single Victorian women in need.

A historical national crisis in housing stability, combined with government COVID-19 supports ending, aggressive inflation, the war in Ukraine and resultant supply chain issues, plus continuous interest rate rises, added further pressures to the cost of living and exacerbated the already fragile positions of our applicants.

This year, The Queen’s Fund received 2,232 applications, and granted a total of $684,509 - an increase of 29% from last year, and our highest amount on record.

We saw a rise of 48% in funding assistance for basic necessities (food, petrol and household goods), an increase of 30% for funding assistance with utilities, and a rise of 29% in applications for funding requests related to housing/homelessness. Family violence and family crisis sadly remain the primary reason for women seeking our assistance, representing 47% of all applications, and an increase of 40% from the previous year.

After over two years of virtual meetings and cancelled events, we were finally able to celebrate our 135th Anniversary at the Alexandra Club in October, and re-introduce in-person Management meetings.

We give thanks to our Queen’s Fund community - the individual donors, trusts, foundations and corporate sponsors, who through their generosity, allow us to continue supporting vulnerable Victorian women and children. But without our Board, our pro bono advisors, and our incredible Committee, each of whom play a vital role in continuing our 136-year legacy, we would simply not exist. A huge thank you to everyone for another year of proving just how much compassionate hearts can achieve together.