Debra Venables

Senior Manager, Homelessness

Debra is an experienced senior level manager who joined the Women’s Housing Company in 2014. With over 15 years’ experience in specialist homelessness services and supported housing for women and children she brings an extensive knowledge of both operational management and governance in the not-for-profit sector, she has expertise in delivering services and programs to women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, sexual assault, mental health conditions, alcohol/drug use, and women impacted by the criminal justice system.

Debra has a dedicated commitment to the principles of social justice and to service models that strengthen capacity for inclusion, equity and dignity for all women.

Debra holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Master of Policy Studies from the University of Sydney, a Diploma of Management and is a NSW Justice of the Peace.

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News & Stories

More than housing: how women’s empowerment creates pathways to independence

With Libby Caskey, Senior Manager, Partnerships and Impact What does “more than housing” mean in practice at Women’s Housing Company? “For decades, housing responses to women experiencing homelessness and domestic and family violence have rightly focused on one fundamental outcome: safety. Safe housing is life-changing and provides stability, protection and the ability to begin recovering from trauma. […]

August 11, 2026

Action now, impact always

Reflecting on 20 years working in housing and homelessness By Nada Nasser, CEO, Women’s Housing Company As I reflect on more than 20 years working in housing and homelessness, I’m reminded of both how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go to make homelessness rare, brief and not repeated. My first […]

August 3, 2026

Continuous quality improvement

Building better outcomes for women, every day For more than 40 years, Women’s Housing Company has been guided by a commitment to learning, adapting and improving. Rather than waiting for large-scale reviews or reacting to problems after they occur, we embed continuous quality improvement into everyday operations – creating a culture of ongoing reflection and […]

July 15, 2026

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Women’s Housing Company acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which we operate, and pays respect to Elders both past and present.

Get in touch

Women's Housing Company Limtied
02 9281 1764 / 1300 942 111
contact@womenshousingcompany.org
ABN: 38 002 704 056
9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday

Resources

If you are homeless - call Link2Home

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