As the community comes together to celebrate Diwali, Yasmin Khan, founder of The Bangle Foundation, shares how the organisation is helping South Asian women find their voice and why this special time of year is an opportunity to connect and raise awareness.

Tell us about The Bangle Foundation and what inspired you to start it.

I’m the founder and director of The Bangle Foundation, a domestic abuse support service for South Asian women.

Being of South Asian heritage myself, I found there were women in our community reaching out and talking about domestic abuse but not knowing where they could go for help. We wanted to provide a safe, culturally appropriate service that understands some of the cultural nuances South Asian women may experience.

Who does The Bangle Foundation support?

We support South Asian women across Australia, including women from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, as well as women of South Asian heritage from countries such as Fiji and South Africa.

Women can contact us at any time, seven days a week. Sometimes having a local person to speak with, who understands both the cultural context and the Australian system, can make it easier to have that first conversation.

What are some of the biggest challenges women face when reaching out for help?

One of the biggest challenges is simply being able to talk and reach out. It’s about making women feel safe enough to speak to us and building that trust. We understand the importance of confidentiality and keeping things private. Sometimes a woman may contact us several times before she feels ready to make a decision about what comes next. Our role is to be there, listen and help her understand that support is available.

What does the work of The Bangle Foundation mean to you personally?

It means South Asian women are finally getting the opportunity to speak about what they’ve been going through. For so long, women from South Asian backgrounds have felt pressure to keep quiet, protect the family honour and not discuss things outside the family. The Bangle Foundation is about giving those women a voice and allowing them to talk about their experiences, find help and access the services they need.

Seeing women stand up and speak for themselves has been one of the greatest changes I’ve seen over the years.

How can the community support The Bangle Foundation?

People can support The Bangle Foundation by donating. We’re an unfunded organisation run by volunteers, and all our services are free. Donations help us support women with practical needs such as accommodation, groceries and removalists, helping them take the next steps in their lives.

What does Diwali mean to you, and how does it connect to the foundation’s work?

Diwali is a time for celebration. It’s about good over evil and light over darkness.

While we celebrate that, it’s also an opportunity to be aware of what may be happening within our community. For women who are suffering at home, that idea of light over darkness can have another meaning.

It’s an opportunity to let people know that we exist, that we’re here to support them and that they can reach out confidentially.

What keeps you motivated?

What keeps me going is seeing women realise they have a voice and can use it and helping them find a pathway out of abusive relationships.

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To learn more about The Bangle Foundation, their work within the South Asian community and how you can show your support, visit their website.