Want to have a great 2017? Use your New Year's resolutions to help other women.

Right now, chances are you’re still riding the buzz of New Year’s Eve celebrations (not to mention still recovering from those one-too-many champagnes).

But for thousands of women around Australia, the prospect of a new year isn’t quite so hopeful.

These are women who need our support, and there are many ways you can help them. So why not make your New Year’s resolution to make support a charity in 2017?

Here’s a guide to just some of the events you can attend, charities you can donate to, and the organisations in your state you can volunteer with. Let’s make a difference.

Victoria

Donate to: Fitted for Work.

Fitted for Work is one of several charities that help disadvantaged woman prepare to enter or re-enter the workforce. Their team provide them with practical skills through coaching and mentoring. One of the other services they offer is providing them with outfits in preparation for an interview. This means they are in need of work-appropriate, good quality shoes, handbags and clothing - particularly in larger sizes. You can also donate money, or volunteer with them.

For more information visit the website.

Volunteer with: Wire.

Wire stands for Women’s Information and Referral Exchange Inc. Wire is a Victoria-wide free general information, support and referral service run by women for women. You can talk to their team, and get help with, absolutely anything. If you think you have something to offer, you can volunteer as support line volunteer, program volunteer, or a Wire champion.

To find out more, visit the website.

Volunteer with: Sister-to-Sister.

Sister2Sister is a year-long mentoring program that teams women, called 'Big Sisters', with teenage girls at risk of abuse and neglect (i.e. 'Little Sisters'). Big Sisters act as a positive female role model to provide support, guidance and advice throughout the program.

Find out how to get involved.

New South Wales

Donate to: Fitted for Work.

Fitted for Work is one of several charities that help disadvantaged woman prepare to enter or reenter the workforce. Their team provide them with practical skills through coaching and mentoring. One of the other services they offer is providing them with outfits in preparation for an interview. This means they are in need of work-appropriate, good quality shoes, handbags and clothing - particularly in larger sizes. You can also donate money, or volunteer with them.

For more information visit the website.

Volunteer with: Sister-to-Sister.

Sister2Sister is a year-long mentoring program that teams women, called 'Big Sisters', with teenage girls at risk of abuse and neglect (i.e. 'Little Sisters'). Big Sisters act as a positive female role model to provide support, guidance and advice throughout the program.

Find out how to get involved.

Help out: Women’s Community Shelters.

Women’s Community Shelters works with communities to establish new women's refuge shelters, which provide short-term emergency accommodation for homeless women. The shelters also offer women access to counselling, health care, assistance to navigate government bureaucracy, legal help, further education and employment to "reestablish control over her life". You can donate goods or money or, even better, volunteer to help the group raise funds.

Visit the website for more information or to register your interest.

ACT

Donate to: Karinya House.

Karinya House Home for Mothers & Babies Inc provides supported accommodation, transitional housing, outreach services and support groups to pregnant and parenting women and their families who are in crisis. The group is currently aiming to reach a $700,000 funding goal by 30 June 2017. Any donations will make a difference.

Find out more at the website.

Western Australia

Donate to: Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services.

The Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence Services is a state-wide organisation providing a voice on domestic and family violence issues. They promote policy, legislative responses relevant to women and children who have experienced domestic and family violence. The WCDFVS advocates for social justice in order to further empowerment, access, equity and safety for all women and children.

Volunteer with: Dress for Success Perth.

Dress For Success helps WA women gain and maintain meaningful employment and take the first steps towards financial independence. Through a three-step program, the team support vulnerable
women disadvantaged by poverty, unemployment to illness, disability, family break-up, abuse and marginalisation.

One of the other services they offer is providing them with outfits in preparation for an interview. This means they are in need of work-appropriate, good quality shoes, handbags and clothing - particularly in larger sizes. You can also donate money, or volunteer with them.

Find out how to get involved here.

South Australia

Donate to: Essentials 4 Women SA.

Essentials 4 Women South Australia aims to provide all women with the basic, but costly, items for feminine hygiene including sanitary products and underwear. The group runs donation drives throughout the year seeking sanitary items, toiletries and underwear. There are also E4WSA donation bins across South Australia. They then collate the products to create Period Packs to give to disadvantaged, often homeless, women.

Find out how to donate or become a member here.

Volunteer with: Catherine House Inc.

Catherine House emergency accommodation and services to women experiencing homelessness. Women can stay in the accommodation for three months and during this time work with a case worker towards longer term accommodation goals. The group is seeking volunteers to help in areas such as fundraising, data entry, event planning and housekeeping.

To put up your hand to volunteer or make a donation visit the website.

Queensland

Donate to: Working Women Queensland.

Working Women Queensland provides a free, confidential and supportive service to help vulnerable women with work-related matters. The team help women deal with issues such as unfair dismissal or redundancy; discrimination and sexual harassment.

The organisation is unfortunately facing closure and needs financial donations urgently. You can also sign WWQ's petition to the Federal Government to continue its funding. Find out more here.

The Well's Bec Sparrow talks to her co-host Robyn Bailey about how she and her daughter give back.

Tasmania

Donate to: Hobart Women's Shelter. 

The shelter provides safe, emergency accommodation and support to women who are affected by family violence and those who are homeless. They accept donations of toiletries, hygiene items and underwear. You could organise a drive to collect items, make a financial donation or even volunteer your time.

To find out more, visit the website.

Northern Territory

Donate to: Alice Springs Women's Shelter.

Alice Springs Women's Shelter provides crisis accommodation as well as many other services to help women escaping violence or experiencing homelessness. Other services include counselling, children's support and a men's behaviour change program. The group "always needs" children's, babies' and women's clothes as well as kitchenware, bedding and sanitary items. Financial donations are also appreciated.

To make a donation visit the website.

If none of these organisations appeal to you, check out DoSomething.org. It's a website that makes finding a charity to support simple — just type in what you're passionate about, how much time you have to spend, and how you'd like to help.