Mobile Outreach Van – Strong Women Talking

Strong Women Talking Mobile Outreach Van

A mobile outreach van is a purpose-built vehicle that takes services directly to the people who need them, rather than expecting those people to come to a fixed location. Community organisations, health providers, and government agencies use them to reach populations who face barriers to accessing traditional services, whether that’s geography, stigma, safety concerns, or simple lack of transport.

For many family violence survivors, asking for help is the hardest part. Walking into a government building feels exposed and culturally unsafe. For some, it’s simply not possible.

Strong Women Talking is a grassroots, community organisation of First Nations sisters and aunties who provide domestic violence support. They create culturally safe spaces and provide information and tools to educate, equip and empower one another to break cycles of violence. 

Bella’s brief was to build a mobile outreach van that could bring support directly into communities, on their terms, without the institutional weight of a fixed location. Where inside, a person can sit down privately with a counsellor, make a phone call, receive financial or other advice, or simply be somewhere quiet and safe.

The result is a fully equipped mobile outreach van ready to operate anywhere:

• Private consultation space: Internal fold-down table and seating for one-on-one sessions, away from public view.
• Dual screen setup: 55-inch smart TVs inside and out, with marine audio for external presentations and community engagement.
• Off-grid power: Lithium Ion batteries, a 2000W inverter, and fixed solar panels so the van runs independently without shore power.
• Climate and comfort: Four Sirocco fans and a full cab divider maintain a comfortable environment regardless of conditions outside.
• Basic amenities: A kitchenette with fridge, hot water, and sink offering small details that matter when someone has just walked through a difficult door.
• Community engagement space: A 3.5M retractable awning and external tables for open-air conversations in a less formal setting.

“We’re really pleased with the result,” says founder and CEO, Sono Weatherall. “The mobile van will help extend our reach and meet women where they are. For many women, it starts with being able to have a yarn and now we can connect with women in here.”

Mobile outreach vans are used across a wide range of sectors in Australia including family and domestic violence support, mental health, aged care, homelessness, allied health, and community education.

The builds vary significantly depending on purpose. Some prioritise private consultation space, others carry medical equipment or function as a mobile classrooms. And for organisations working with vulnerable populations, a custom-built outreach van is often more effective than expanding a fixed-site service.