Maddi Powell on Supporting Women in Crisis

Fletcher Street Cottage’s Assistant Manager and Community Support Worker, Maddi Powell, has been recognised for her outstanding leadership and dedication to supporting women in the Byron Shire, receiving the Zonta Award for Young Women in Business Leadership 2025 for the Northern Rivers.

Presented by Zonta Northern Rivers, the award celebrates young women demonstrating exceptional leadership and community impact. Maddi’s work with Byron Women, a program of Fletcher Street Cottage, has been widely praised for its compassion, innovation and grassroots impact in helping women experiencing homelessness, domestic and family violence, or financial insecurity.

Born in Melbourne and raised by her single mother alongside her sister, Maddi moved to Byron Bay as a teenager and has called the region home ever since.

“My mum did an incredible job of raising us, but I saw first-hand the emotional and financial struggles women face trying to do it all on their own. That experience gave me a deep respect for the strength women carry, and it’s where my passion for supporting women in my community began.”

That passion took Maddi across the world at 19, when she volunteered in a women’s home in India. The experience, she says, was life-changing. “Listening to those women share their stories lit a fire in my heart. It made me realise the power of resilience and the importance of using our own privilege to make a difference,” she reflected. “It shaped the way I approach everything I do, with humility, gratitude and service.”

At Fletcher Street Cottage, Maddi helps lead Byron Women, a program providing a safe and welcoming space for women in crisis to access essential support. From emergency relief and housing assistance to domestic and family violence advocacy. Beyond practical aid, it’s a place of connection and community.

“The moments that stay with me most are when we can tell a mother and her children, ‘You have somewhere safe to stay tonight,’ and you see the relief wash over them,” Maddi said. “But it’s also the quieter moments, when women start to connect with one another and those connections turn into real friendships. The way women hold and lift each other up is so beautiful to witness.”

Maddi is quick to emphasise that the award belongs to more than just her. “This recognition reflects the incredible team at Fletcher Street Cottage, who show up every day with dedication,” she said. “And it’s also for the women we walk alongside. Their courage and willingness to keep showing up through hardship inspire me every single day.”

Fletcher Street Cottage, which operates without ongoing government funding, is built entirely on community spirit and generosity.

“What makes this space so unique is that it’s community-led. The women who come through our doors shape what we do and how we do it. We simply listen and respond with care.”

Looking ahead, Maddi hopes to see the Byron Women program grow in both reach and resources. “We’d love to be open longer hours to better support the women who rely on us. My hope is that we can continue to sustain and strengthen the work we’re already doing,” she said. “And more broadly, I hope to see real action on the housing crisis — because everyone deserves a safe place to call home.”

‍Zonta Northern Rivers has kindly sponsored a dedicated Women’s Flower and Herb Garden and free Self Defence classes for the Byron Women program at Fletcher Street Cottage.‍

To learn more about Fletcher Street Cottage or to donate, visit www.fletcherstreetcottage.com.au.

‍Some comments and quotes in this article were originally shared in an interview with The Byron Wave.