Ten years ago, on 4 March, I created the Support The Girls Australia Facebook page.

It began after I met Lily, a homeless woman.

She had catastrophic wounds under her breasts caused by chafing. She did not have a bra. That moment impacted me to such an extent due to my own journey, that I knew something had to change. Women deserve dignity. A bra is not a luxury for many women. It is a necessity.

That meeting started a journey that has shaped and consumed the last ten years of my life.

Today I need to share difficult news. You will notice things have been very quiet on our social media. It has been due to my health.

Due to my serious and ongoing health issues, the Board and I have made the decision to close Support The Girls Australia. We will be officially closed at the end of March.

This decision has not been made lightly. I have spent ten years giving everything to my role as Founder and CEO. Not many of you will know that I worked seven days a week to keep the charity operating. We did not have a team of paid staff. No social media people, no marketing, no admin. It was one person and that was myself.

Support The Girls Australia has always been built on integrity and a strong moral compass. We focused on purpose. We did not have large funding streams. What we had was commitment, passion, and an extraordinary team of volunteers.

As women we often put ourselves last. I have done that for most of my life. It is now time for me to put my health first.

I have three adult children and a beautiful grandson who need me.

Together we achieved results that will leave a lasting impact and legacy.

• • Over 10,000 women received support through bras, underwear, and essential items.
  • More than 2,000 Indigenous women attended mammograms through our Rural Outreach with BreastScreen NSW.
  • Women gained access to information, choice, and healthcare that many had never accessed before.
  • Trust grew between Indigenous communities and BreastScreen teams.
  • Public bra gifting events created safe spaces where women could connect and feel supported.
  • Working with the Australia Defence force in operation Operation Christmas Drop delivering support to remote indigenous communities via air drops was incredible.

There are so many more moments that I could share.

I am immensely proud of what we achieved.

The last decade holds memories that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I met women whose strength and resilience changed me. I met volunteers whose compassion never wavered.

To every person who donated bras, underwear, menstrual products, or toiletries, thank you. Your support empowered over 10,000 women. Your generosity created dignity and comfort for women who needed it.
To my amazing tribe of “bra fairies”. A huge thank you for your commitment and compassion for women. To my small dedicated rural outreach team – from the bottom of my heart thank you. We have travelled thousands of miles and shared much laughter and tears. Your unwavering commitment to leave your families for 4-5 days has been incredible. I know we will all have a life long bond. To anyone that has given of their time in anyway. I say thank you.

To the organisation’s and businesses that supported us with product and financial support, we are forever grateful for your belief in us.

To all the Indigenous Medical Services across Queensland and NSW it was such a privilege to work alongside you and support your clients. We know we have built bridges that will span a lifetime. Thank you for trusting my small team.

All remaining stock has now been donated. It has been distributed to services and communities that share the same purpose and values as ourselves.

Thank you for believing in this work. Thank you for walking beside us. Thank you for the compassion you showed women across Australia.

From my heart, thank you.
Jane Holmes
Founder
Support The Girls Australia