Empowering Survivors: A Conversation with Friends with Dignity
At Pole Divas, we believe in the power of community, empowerment, and making a difference. That’s why we’re proud to support Friends with Dignity, a remarkable organization dedicated to helping victim-survivors of domestic and family violence rebuild their lives with dignity and hope. Recently, our Head of Marketing, Kikki MacLeod, sat down with Manuela Whitford, CEO of Friends with Dignity, to learn more about their work, challenges, and how everyone can get involved.
The Heart of Friends with Dignity
Friends with Dignity was founded by Manuela Whitford, a nurse and someone who experienced assault in her own life. After moving to Australia for a safer future for her family, Manuela’s experiences in the corrections system and her own journey led her to recognize the urgent need for support and resources for those escaping violence. She started Friends with Dignity by simply asking her community for help—beds, fridges, towels, and other essentials—and was amazed by the response. This grassroots approach has since grown into a national movement, driven by the belief that every contribution, no matter how small, can make a life-changing difference
Programs That Make a Difference
Friends with Dignity offers several programs designed to meet the diverse needs of victim-survivors:
- Sanctuary Program: Provides fully furnished homes for families escaping violence, including furniture, appliances, and personal touches like the families favourite colours, a child’s favourite toys or hobbies to really make it feel like a home.
- Urgent Request Program: Responds to immediate needs such as financial assistance, vehicle repairs, security upgrades, and educational support, often within 48 hours. They provide this support all over Australia.
- Little Friends Scholarship: Offers up to $500 for children aged 5–17 to cover educational or extracurricular expenses, ensuring they don’t miss out on opportunities due to their family’s situation.
These programs are not just about material support—they’re about restoring dignity, hope, and a sense of belonging.
Manuela explains that Friends with Dignity deliberately adds deeply personal “little touches” to each Sanctuary so that survivor families feel seen, heard, and truly cared for.
What The “Little Touches” Are
She says that when agencies refer a family, they are asked about their hobbies, interests, and favourite colours, and these details go onto a “wish list” alongside practical items like beds and fridges. Team leaders then use this to choose things like a rug in someone’s favourite colour, a vase they would love, or toys and arts-and-crafts supplies that match a child’s interests.
Why Those Details Matter
The feedback they receive is often pure amazement: people walk in and say things like “they knew my favourite colour” or notice that the kids have exactly the kind of toys or craft materials they love. For Manuela, this is powerful because many victim-survivors have felt muted and invisible; those small, thoughtful touches show that someone listened, remembered, and created a space especially for them, which is deeply validating and empowering.
More Than Furniture and Finances
Manuela is clear that while the big items and financial relief are crucial, the main message they want to send is that each person is acknowledged as an individual, not just another case of domestic violence. Those personalised details turn a house into a home and communicate that the family is seen, heard, and worthy of beauty and comfort, which can be just as healing as the material support itself.
Where Friends with Dignity Operates
Friends with Dignity currently operates in Queensland, New South Wales (mainly Newcastle), Victoria, and Perth. While the Sanctuary Program is regionally focused, their financial and scholarship programs are available Australia-wide. The organization is expanding its reach, especially in Victoria, with the goal of establishing more warehouses and support networks to serve growing regional communities.
Overcoming Challenges
Setting up and running these programs hasn’t been without challenges. Financial strain, logistical hurdles, and the need for reliable volunteers are ongoing issues. Manuela also shared that one of the biggest challenges is ensuring donated items are of good quality—Friends with Dignity is not a dumping ground, but a place where survivors receive items that empower and uplift them. The organization encourages thoughtful donations and stresses the importance of community support and awareness.
How Survivors Access Support
Victim-survivors access Friends with Dignity’s programs through referrals from domestic violence agencies and services. These organizations assess the needs of their clients and submit requests to Friends with Dignity, which then coordinates the delivery of resources. The process is designed to be as seamless and dignified as possible, with personalized touches to make each family feel seen and valued. This process protects the identify of the clients.
Expanding Impact in Victoria
The recent expansion into Victoria has been a significant milestone. Friends with Dignity aims to establish a strong local presence, with plans for more warehouses and volunteer networks. The organization is open to partnerships and collaborations, especially with businesses and investors who want to make a difference in their communities.
How You Can Help
Everyone can play a role in preventing domestic and family violence. Manuela encourages individuals and businesses to:
- Share information and posts about Friends with Dignity on social media.
- Organize workplace or community collection drives for essential items.
- Volunteer or connect with Friends with Dignity’s community engagement manager, Tracy, to explore partnership opportunities email community@friendswithdignity.org.au
And on a truly grassroots and personal level, if you see something, say something. You may think that calling the police is overreacting but if you are witnessing an argument or physical violence, make the call, you could save someone’s life.
Volunteering with Friends with Dignity
Volunteers are the backbone of Friends with Dignity. The organization welcomes people with a range of skills, from hands-on help with furniture assembly to administrative and financial support. Volunteers are encouraged to be proactive and vocal, as the organization is continually improving its volunteer management systems to provide a rewarding experience for everyone involved.
A Message to the Pole Divas Community
Manuela is inspired by the Pole Divas community, the strength, confidence and power of our students and instructors blows her away! She praised the alignment of values between the two organizations and expressed her gratitude for the ongoing support and partnership.
Friends with Dignity’s work is a testament to the power of community and the impact of collective action. At Pole Divas, we’re proud to stand alongside them and support their mission. If you’re inspired to get involved, visit the Friends with Dignity’s website and reach out! And be sure to follow them on social media, this is where they often post urgent requests and you might be able to help.