SUB FUNDS

The Aunties
Fund

Collective Impact

The Aunties Fund has been set up by a collective of South Asian women, to mobilise our communities to address domestic and family abuse and violence in Sydney.

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Why this Fund

We believe migrant women are powerful agents of change. 

The South-Asian community is the second-largest tax-paying diaspora in Australia. Yet, the services that our communities need remain deeply under-resourced.

Change has to come from within our communities. Our community donors will mobilise into a movement to make systemic change. We are the first permanent fund working to raise money for services that support South-Asian victim-survivors of domestic abuse in Sydney. The Aunties Fund operates as a sub-fund of the Sydney Women’s Fund.

Our Aim

The Aunties Fund is the first permanent fund for South-Asian women, by South-Asian women. We are on a mission to raise $100,000 for culturally informed services.

The Fund operates as a Sub Fund of the Sydney Women’s Fund. 

Your donation could change someone’s life. The services we are supporting offer shelter, case management, and outreach support to women and families experiencing domestic and family violence in Sydney.

The Aunties Fund aims to:

  1. Consistently raise $100,000-$1,000,000 each year through community giving
  2. Work with culturally informed service partners
  3. Fund initiatives that increase awareness and impact behaviours
  4. To mobilise 5,000 community donors into a community movement

We want this to be a community movement. We are asking for a small, minimum donation of $10. Donations $2 and over are tax-deductible.

The Aunties Fund is entirely run by volunteers. Support this movement with us!

DONATE TO THE AUNTIES FUND

About us

We are a collective of everyday women living in Sydney, connected by our Indian, Sri Lankan and Pakistani heritages.

Our paths are diverse, ranging from students, lawyers, marketers, artists, writers, and social impact specialists. Some of us are mothers, some are new to this country, and all of us are connected by a common cause: to end domestic abuse within South-Asian communities, and help affected community members to have choices.

Support is
needed

1 in 3

Migrant women face some form of domestic abuse. Many are South-Asian.

Visa and dowry abuse

Are some of the prevalent recurring themes of domestic abuse in South-Asian communities.

We all know someone

Who has been through domestic abuse.

Second largest

Tax paying diaspora in Australia are South-Asians. Yet, services that serve our communities remain strained.

Culturally sensitive

Help is crucial for South-Asian survivors. Current systems overlook these requirements.

We are on a mission

To raise $100,000 for culturally informed services in Sydney.

Charities we
support

Support Our Mission for a Safer Future

Now is the time to act. Let us show ourselves what our communities are capable of.

Your donations will benefit these services:

  • Indian (Sub-continent) crisis & support agency
  • House of Sakinah
  • Immigrant Women’s Speakout Association
  • Harman Foundation


Every contribution counts.

DONATE TO THE AUNTIES FUND

Who we are

The Women Behind the Mission
Leading this initiative for change in our communities.

INDU BALACHANDRAN
Indu is an Indian-Australian social impact strategist, with a background in economics and social change. With over 20 years’ experience in the social sector in Australia, she has led the design and delivery of initiatives that advance cultural inclusion and economic development. Her commitment to addressing domestic abuse is grounded in community-led and culturally responsive solutions. Indu’s approach in designing for systems change is activated in her work as elected councillor, on boards and in advisory roles. And she loves playing the veena!
AMANI MAHMOUD
Amani is a Pakistani-Australian writer and lawyer whose work is rooted in advocacy and storytelling as powerful tools for social change. Passionate about ending violence against women within the South Asian community, she uses both her legal expertise and her writing to challenge harmful norms, spark dialogue, and inspire collective action. Her commitment lies in creating safer, more equitable futures by engaging South Asian communities in the journey toward transformation.
SNEHA ARUN
Sneha is deeply passionate about issues affecting LGBTQIA+ communities, particularly the culturally specific challenges faced within broader communities. As someone who was born and raised in India and having navigated lifestyles across two distinct socio-economic and cultural landscapes, she brings a unique lens to intersectionality and inclusivity across cultural contexts. She is passionate about transforming behavioural insights into actionable systems that are inclusive and people-centred.

 

RHUNJHUN PACHOLI BHARDWAJ
Rhunjhun is a seasoned brand strategist and marketer with over 15 years of experience. She specialises in transforming cultural insights into compelling narratives that forge meaningful connections. Passionate about addressing the challenges women face within rigid cultural norms in our communities, she is committed to using her skills to drive meaningful social impact. 
NATASHA CHOPRA
Natasha is a producer and writer working in the Indian film industry for two decades. She has built her independent production house, and is bringing to screen, female driven stories from India.

She has also worked in India with a non-profit organisation in India dedicated to promoting education for underprivileged girls. She is passionate about awareness on systemic issues such as domestic violence, educational barriers, and the pressures of cultural expectations among South Asian women.
MALINI RAJ
Malini is a systems change leader and award-winning advocate with 20+ years’ experience across finance, government, health, and community sectors. She is Executive Director of the Australian Multicultural Women’s Alliance, ensuring migrant and refugee women are central to Australia’s gender equity agenda. Malini held senior leadership roles at Commonwealth Bank, where she drove financial inclusion and cultural capability, reaching staff and hundreds of thousands of diverse customers. A passionate mentor, she has guided 300+ women from culturally diverse backgrounds into leadership pathways. A recognised thought leader, she has represented Australia at the UN Commission on the Status of Women and internationally as a patient advocate for Cushing’s disease. She also serves on multiple boards, including as Chair of the Australian Pituitary Foundation.
SNEHAA 
Snehaa was born in India and raised in Hong Kong. She is a strategy and growth leader with experience across high-performing, fast-scaling organisations, bringing a commercial lens to mission-driven work.
Her passion for ending domestic violence stems from witnessing its prevalence in Hong Kong, particularly the abuse faced by migrant domestic helpers. Those experiences shaped her commitment to challenging silence and stigma and strengthening pathways to safety and support, including within South Asian communities.
As a young advocate, she delivered a TEDx talk on domestic violence. Snehaa is also a Board Member at UWC Australia, part of the global United World Colleges movement advancing education for peace and intercultural understanding.
REA SINGH
Rea is an experienced communications and engagement leader with over a decade of work in social policy, community development and strategic communications. She specialises in co-designed community initiatives using the IAP2 Framework and has led national engagement strategies across key areas including health, disability and wellbeing, with a strong focus on preventing violence against women and diverse communities.
A respected community leader and expert in multicultural engagement, Rea represents the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council through its CALD Women’s Advisory Group. She also serves on the Board of the University of Sydney Settlement and is a member of Full Stop Australia, a national organisation supporting people impacted by sexual violence.
DERSHINI
Dershini comes from a family of fire cracker women . They paved her way to leave her birth country and move to Sydney at a young age of 19. Passionate about the art of medicine, she is a full time General practitioner. Realising that health and society interacts, she finally has the time to pursue other goals that align with her. One of them is being an auntie
VINISHA RATHOD
Vinisha is a keynote speaker, strategic advisor and Managing Director of P3 Studio, a consultancy focused on leadership clarity, culture and growth. She works with founder-led businesses and senior leaders during periods of scale, helping align leadership identity with commercial outcomes.
With over 18 years’ experience across leadership, brand and culture, she combines behavioural insight with commercial strategy to strengthen performance and address barriers to growth.
She is the author of The Briefcase Effect, a framework used in her leadership programs to help professionals communicate their value with clarity and impact. Vinisha is also an advocate for economic empowerment and systems that support opportunity, independence and equity.
SNEHAA 
Snehaa was born in India and raised in Hong Kong. She is a strategy and growth leader with experience across high-performing, fast-scaling organisations, bringing a commercial lens to mission-driven work. Her passion for ending domestic violence stems from witnessing its prevalence in Hong Kong, particularly the abuse faced by migrant domestic helpers. Those experiences shaped her commitment to challenging silence and stigma and strengthening pathways to safety and support, including within South Asian communities. As a young advocate, she delivered a TEDx talk on domestic violence. Snehaa is also a Board Member at UWC Australia, part of the global United World Colleges movement advancing education for peace and intercultural understanding.
SNEHAA 
Snehaa was born in India and raised in Hong Kong. She is a strategy and growth leader with experience across high-performing, fast-scaling organisations, bringing a commercial lens to mission-driven work. Her passion for ending domestic violence stems from witnessing its prevalence in Hong Kong, particularly the abuse faced by migrant domestic helpers. Those experiences shaped her commitment to challenging silence and stigma and strengthening pathways to safety and support, including within South Asian communities. As a young advocate, she delivered a TEDx talk on domestic violence. Snehaa is also a Board Member at UWC Australia, part of the global United World Colleges movement advancing education for peace and intercultural understanding.

Get In Touch

To get in touch email: auntiesfund@gmail.com

 

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