Kelly-ann Tansey, CEO, Zahra Foundation
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Accelerate Action.
Zahra Foundation CEO, Kelly-Ann Tansey, talks about the need to empower women through learning if we are to accelerate action for gender equality.
“The future we are fighting for will not be won by words alone—it will be built through education, skills, and economic opportunity. The time to act is now.”
At Zahra Foundation, we witness a harsh reality every day: many of the women who walk through our doors never had the chance to complete their education or develop foundational skills due to the impacts of intergenerational domestic and family violence. For others, years of coercive control, financial abuse, and the long-term effects of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) have stripped away their confidence and eroded their skills.
At the current rate of progress, full gender equality won’t be achieved until 2158—five generations from now. This is unacceptable. If we are serious about change, we must Accelerate Action where it matters most: ensuring women have access to education, skills, and financial independence so they are never forced to return to violence due to poverty or homelessness.
For nearly nine years, Zahra Foundation Australia has been delivering Adult Community Education programs to support women recovering from DFSV. Last year alone, more than 150 South Australian women participated, gaining the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to pursue further education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
This is why adult education must be recognised as a critical pillar in recovery. Education is more than literacy and numeracy—it is a pathway to autonomy, stability, and self-sufficiency. The Pathways to Empowerment program, funded by the South Australian Government under Adult Community Education, is a pioneering initiative for women impacted by DFSV. It helps them rebuild their lives by strengthening foundational skills, unlocking new opportunities, and providing formal recognition of their capabilities.
Women in this program are not just learning—they are reclaiming their right to financial security and independence. Many describe it as a turning point, where they no longer feel trapped in a cycle of violence or control. With education, they no longer must choose between abuse and poverty—they gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to shape their futures.
The impact is life changing. Women like Anna (name changed for privacy) arrived at Zahra Foundation after fleeing an abusive relationship, determined to improve her English and numeracy skills so she could start her own business. Twelve months later, Anna now owns a food truck, sells sweet treats in her community, and has secured a stable income for herself and her son.
Stories like Anna’s prove that adult education is not just about learning—it is about survival, independence, and breaking the cycle of abuse. When women have access to supportive learning environments, they don’t just survive—they thrive.
For too long, adult education has been overlooked as a key solution to ending gendered violence. Pathways to Empowerment proves that education leads to financial independence, and financial independence leads to lasting safety.
If we are serious about Accelerating Action for gender equality, we must invest in programs that empower women through learning. The future we are fighting for will not be won by words alone—it will be built through education, skills, and economic opportunity. The time to act is now.
#AccelerateAction #IWD2025 #AdultEducation #EconomicEmpowerment #ZahraFoundation
Bio
Zahra Foundation Australia – 10 Years of Impact
Founded in response to the tragic murder of Zahra Abrahimzadeh, Zahra Foundation Australia has spent the past 10 years empowering women affected by domestic and family violence to rebuild their lives through economic independence and financial resilience.
As a national leader in this space, Zahra Foundation provides specialist programs, financial counselling, and pathways to education and employment, ensuring women have the tools to break free from violence and achieve long-term stability.
Under the leadership of CEO Kelly-ann Tansley, the Foundation has secured multi-year investments, expanded evidence-based programs, and influenced policy and legislative reform, including the criminalisation of coercive control. With deep expertise in governance, stakeholder engagement, and for-purpose leadership, Kelly-ann ensures Zahra’s work is driven by lived experience, data, and sustainable impact strategies.
Together, Zahra Foundation and its partners are working towards a future where all women are economically empowered and safe.
March 2025
Included in Categories
Kelly-ann Tansey, CEO, Zahra Foundation
This year’s International Women’s Day theme is Accelerate Action.
At Zahra Foundation, we witness a harsh reality every day: many of the women who walk through our doors never had the chance to complete their education or develop foundational skills due to the impacts of intergenerational domestic and family violence. For others, years of coercive control, financial abuse, and the long-term effects of domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) have stripped away their confidence and eroded their skills.
At the current rate of progress, full gender equality won’t be achieved until 2158—five generations from now. This is unacceptable. If we are serious about change, we must Accelerate Action where it matters most: ensuring women have access to education, skills, and financial independence so they are never forced to return to violence due to poverty or homelessness.
For nearly nine years, Zahra Foundation Australia has been delivering Adult Community Education programs to support women recovering from DFSV. Last year alone, more than 150 South Australian women participated, gaining the skills, confidence, and opportunities needed to pursue further education, employment, or entrepreneurship.
This is why adult education must be recognised as a critical pillar in recovery. Education is more than literacy and numeracy—it is a pathway to autonomy, stability, and self-sufficiency. The Pathways to Empowerment program, funded by the South Australian Government under Adult Community Education, is a pioneering initiative for women impacted by DFSV. It helps them rebuild their lives by strengthening foundational skills, unlocking new opportunities, and providing formal recognition of their capabilities.
Women in this program are not just learning—they are reclaiming their right to financial security and independence. Many describe it as a turning point, where they no longer feel trapped in a cycle of violence or control. With education, they no longer must choose between abuse and poverty—they gain the skills, knowledge, and confidence to shape their futures.
The impact is life changing. Women like Anna (name changed for privacy) arrived at Zahra Foundation after fleeing an abusive relationship, determined to improve her English and numeracy skills so she could start her own business. Twelve months later, Anna now owns a food truck, sells sweet treats in her community, and has secured a stable income for herself and her son.
Stories like Anna’s prove that adult education is not just about learning—it is about survival, independence, and breaking the cycle of abuse. When women have access to supportive learning environments, they don’t just survive—they thrive.
For too long, adult education has been overlooked as a key solution to ending gendered violence. Pathways to Empowerment proves that education leads to financial independence, and financial independence leads to lasting safety.
If we are serious about Accelerating Action for gender equality, we must invest in programs that empower women through learning. The future we are fighting for will not be won by words alone—it will be built through education, skills, and economic opportunity. The time to act is now.
#AccelerateAction #IWD2025 #AdultEducation #EconomicEmpowerment #ZahraFoundation
Bio
Zahra Foundation Australia – 10 Years of Impact
Founded in response to the tragic murder of Zahra Abrahimzadeh, Zahra Foundation Australia has spent the past 10 years empowering women affected by domestic and family violence to rebuild their lives through economic independence and financial resilience.
As a national leader in this space, Zahra Foundation provides specialist programs, financial counselling, and pathways to education and employment, ensuring women have the tools to break free from violence and achieve long-term stability.
Under the leadership of CEO Kelly-ann Tansley, the Foundation has secured multi-year investments, expanded evidence-based programs, and influenced policy and legislative reform, including the criminalisation of coercive control. With deep expertise in governance, stakeholder engagement, and for-purpose leadership, Kelly-ann ensures Zahra’s work is driven by lived experience, data, and sustainable impact strategies.
Together, Zahra Foundation and its partners are working towards a future where all women are economically empowered and safe.
March 2025
Included in Categories