The Cottage in the old Ashfield police station is a new partnership between NSW Police and the Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre (WAGEC), offering victim-survivors and their children a welcoming, non-threatening space to share their stories and access advice and support. Twenty years ago, WAGEC chief executive Nicole Yade walked into Ashfield Police Station carrying her five-month-old baby, seeking help after nearly a decade of domestic violence. She was met with a cold, unwelcoming waiting room. On Wednesday, she returned to that very building — now transformed into The Cottage — to open it alongside Burwood Police Local Area Commander Christine McDonald. The Cottage offers plush furnishings, children's toys, emergency supplies, and specialised equipment to check devices, with a particular focus on reaching diverse and multicultural communities. Thank you Nicole and Christine for your compassion, leadership, and hard work and thanks to all the amazing women at WAGEC. Thanks to you The Cottage will change the lives of so many across our community, making sure victim-survivors will have access to practical support when they need it most.