Image: The Council of Single Mothers and their Children, 2006-2007 grantee (Single But Not Alone), proudly supported by Jo Baevski.
We are honouring the memory of Joanna (Jo) Baevski (1948 – 2026) who passed away recently. For decades, Jo was a generous, feminist philanthropist whose vision for a more equal world helped shape the story of the Victorian Women’s Trust.
Jo was deeply committed to social justice. Her support wasn’t just financial; her backing was insightful, strategic, and integral to our work. She invested in innovative, circuit-breaking solutions to systemic issues and provided immense community benefit in the process.
A Pivotal Force in Grant Making
Jo was a key part of our journey, providing financial support as early as 1993. Her long-standing contribution provides a window into her beliefs, values, and her commitment to a better world for women and girls. Here’s a brief insight into her philanthropic outlook:
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Justice for Women: In 1993, she supported the People’s Justice Alliance project, Inside Out, which developed educational kits regarding women and imprisonment, at a time when an estimated 75% of women prisoners were held for non-violent crimes.
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Celebrating Women’s History: Jo was a key donor for the path-breaking exhibition Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Lives (2001). Originally intended to profile 20 women community leaders, the project was so impactful that it grew to include all 264 nominees and toured 14 regional locations in celebration women’s contributions to society.
- The Prue Myer Sub-Fund: Established in 2011 by Jo and other family members, this Sub-Fund honours the life of her mother, Prudence Myer. It continues her legacy by providing targeted support for immigrant, refugee, and disadvantaged girls and young women. Since it was formed, the fund has distributed well over $40,000 to create opportunities for mentorship and academic development while encouraging active participation in civic and political life.
Visionary Civic Engagement: The Kitchen Table Model
Jo was one of two donors who enabled us to design and implement our Kitchen Table Conversation model of civic empowerment. This model has had a remarkable ripple effect over the last twenty years:
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The Purple Sage Project: In the late 1990s, Jo supported this ground-breaking project by the Victorian Women’s Trust, involving 6,000 women and men across the state. Participants formed hundreds of small groups to discuss issues like school closures and the erosion of vital services, with over 85% of these groups led by women.
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Water Reform: This model later underpinned the WaterMark Australia Project, another initiative from the Victorian Women’s Trust, which involved 2,000 people in discussions about water scarcity and climate change. It fundamentally reframed the debate around water policy in Victoria and led to the publication of Our Watermark, with 37,000 copies distributed nationwide.
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A National Impact: The success of these initiatives eventually mentored others, including the Voices for Indi movement in 2012. This model helped trigger a wave of independent movements across Australia, leading to the election of many women to federal parliament. Later, this same model of civic discourse was utilised as part of Together, Yes — our national advocacy campaign in support of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to parliament.
A Vast Philanthropic Legacy
Jo’s reach touched almost every corner of our work, transforming the lives of countless women and girls:
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Empowerment: She supported mentoring and support networks for female refugees and asylum seekers, promoting self-sufficiency and a sense of belonging.
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Social Justice: Jo backed research into the legal needs of young women and supported documentaries uncovering the exploitation of outworkers in the fashion industry.
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Safety and Dignity: She was a steadfast supporter of therapeutic programs for mothers and infants affected by family violence, and advocated for shared equity housing for older women.
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Future Leaders: Jo supported youth leadership through programs like Typo Station, one of Australia’s first female-only early-intervention program for at-risk teenage girls.
A Lasting History
Jo believed in the capacity of philanthropy to drive effective social change. Whether it was grassroots democracy or seed funding for national harm prevention institutions, Jo’s influence was integral. We will remember her as a steadfast ally who believed in ensuring women in Australia have true equality and opportunity.
Vale, Jo Baevski. Your kindness and passion for social justice are woven into the very fabric of the Victorian Women’s Trust.