Join Hunter Homeless Connect for the first screening in Newcastle of the acclaimed Under Cover documentary on Monday 5th December 2022 at Event Cinemas, Kotara.

Narrated by Margot Robbie and sharing the often secret lives of an eclectic group of women across Australia, UNDER COVER shines a light on the devastating reality that women over 50 are the fastest growing cohort experiencing homelessness in the country. Their moving but optimistic portraits reveal the struggles these women face, and lay bare the flaws in our society, as well as our economic fragility in the modern world.

The film is written, directed and produced by documentary filmmaker Sue Thomson, and produced by Adam Farrington Williams.

Sue first read about the crisis in a newspaper article back in 2018. What struck her was how similar her story could have been to those she was reading about. Despite being over 50 and working non stop, Sue had very little superannuation and accumulated debt. The shock of reading about these women whose lives paralleled her own, prompted Sue to look into the issue further. As a documentary filmmaker, a decision to make a film to highlight these women’s stories felt timely and important. Sue and her producer Adam Farrington-Williams always wish for their films to affect change and are optimistic that UNDER COVER will be a rallying point for conversation within Australia.

A speaking panel at the end of the screening will be facilitated by Hunter Homeless Connect Chair Michelle Faithfull, with Director Sue Thomson, Greens MP Abigail Boyd (who initiated a recent NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into older women and homelessness), Seema Sanghi from the Housing Older People's Project, Danielle Whyte Project Manager at Our Backyard/Car to Home Project, Cr Elizabeth Adamczyk and Kelly Hansen CEO at Nova for Women & Children.

Tickets include: Nibblies (grazing tables) and a drink on arrival (bubbles/beer/wine/soft drink).

All proceeds from the event will support continuing the facilitation of Hunter Homeless Connect's Connecting the Hunter program.

Connecting the Hunter is an extension of our annual Hunter Homeless Connect Day event, connecting people in need with vital support services all year 'round. We do this through the purchase of food and haircut vouchers from local businesses and provide these to local specialist homeless service providers and community service organisations, who pass these on directly to people who need support. Our most recent collaborations have supported women experiencing homelessness though local organisations such as Nova for Women & Children, Jenny's Place Newcastle & Domestic Violence Resource Centre and East Lakes 'Staying Home Leaving Violence' Family Support Service.