The Moira Rayner Fund was established in 1994  to help women take action to protect their rights and, in particular, supports their right to complain, and assert their claim to equal treatment. The initial funds were raised at a tribute to Moira Rayner dinner, after her position as Equal Opportunity Commissioner was abolished by the Kennett government in Victoria.

One of the first funded initiatives was the support for Maureen McCunnie in helping her fight her successful employment discrimination case against Airservices Australia.

Since then, the Fund has enabled several important cases to be prosecuted, including:

• Carol Stingel's successful High Court Appeal seeking the right to launch civil action for injuries relating to sexual assaults decades earlier
  
  
• Heather Osland's High Court Appeal against her criminal conviction. This was the first time the High Court examined the plight of battered women
  
  
• Heather Osland's successful High Court Appeal for Freedom of Information relating to documents concerning her Mercy Petition

The Fund has also been used to support other initiatives including the Women's Rights Action Network Australia's (WRANA) postcard campaign to secure a commitment from political parties to sign the Optional Protocol to United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).

We welcome public donations to help grow the fund. However, donations are not tax-deductible.

If you are interested in the possible use of this Fund, please contact the Executive Director, Mary Crooks. As well, should you wish to make a financial contribution to this important work for women, simply contact the Trust office on 03 96420422.

Moira Rayner