Projects

Yarning Garden

We were excited to commence working alongside community not-for-profit organisation Food Is Free Inc in early 2023 to develop a First Nations led gardening project funded by the City of Ballarat. Collaboration is a key part of our ethos, as is supporting First Nations women’s self-determination. The Yarning Garden project will be co-designed, developed and run by mob. Food Is Free Inc will provide mentorship while ensuring that all First Nations participants take the lead on key decisions, with WHG’s First Nations team to provide guidance in that respect. The garden will create a site of connection, empowerment and learning for the women involved, and a place for the whole community to learn more about First Nations culture. We are looking forward to breaking ground and watching the Yarning Garden grow!

Gender & Sport

What a year to celebrate women in sport! From providing more leadership and decision-making roles, to ensuring fair access to inclusive facilities and working towards greater representation in coaching and officiating, there’s no better time to be a woman or girl wanting to be involved in all things physical activity. At a local level, we are proud to have a dedicated portfolio working with clubs, Associations, Leagues and other industry partners in our region to level the playing field. Through our programs Act@Play and CoRE we are supporting clubs to be more inclusive, welcoming, safe and equal.

Grampians region clubs were inspired and motivated by the Change Makers dinner to work towards a common goal of preventing gender-based violence. WHG is proud to have welcomed three new sporting clubs to the CoRE Alliance, including Ararat Football Netball Club, Wimmera Football Netball League and Horsham Amateur Basketball Association.

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Sport resources developed

CoRE Onside e-newsletters distributed

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Presentations on promoting gender equality in sport

Act@Play Wimmera

Act@Play was successfully delivered to Wimmera-based clubs including Minyip Murtoa Football Netball Club and Horsham Basketball Association. The six-month intensive culture change program helps sporting clubs fast track gender equality outcomes and shift the goal posts sooner rather than later. Fifty-seven people participated in bystander training alone, including senior players. 100% of those who completed evaluation surveys indicated that the session had increased their confidence to challenge sexism and discrimination.

Daughters of the West and Champions of the West

WHG was again delighted to partner with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation to bring about change in the community through the power of sport. WHG delivered gender equality training sessions to 124 participants through the Daughters of the West program, and also played a supporting role with the Champions of the West program by becoming part of a project to provide training and education on primary prevention to all tiers of the Western Bulldogs Football Club.

Women in Trades

Our two Women in Trades programs – Act on Site and See What You Can Be – work in tandem. See What You Can Be connects women with an interest in the sector with role models, opportunities, education and training to minimise barriers to entry. Act on Site is a 6-12 month whole-of-organisation culture change program aimed at helping businesses attract and retain more women into their workforce. Both programs have seen a busy year as gender equality in trades gains more momentum.

See What You Can Be

  • 20 Try A Trade Days have been held in partnership with Highlands LLEN, Apprenticeship Support Australia and Platinum Institute
  • 12% of girls who participated have moved into pre-apprenticeship or school based apprenticeships
  • 7 See What You Can Be Advocates have been recruited and trained.
  • 27 speaking engagements at Try A Trade Days, Career Expos, Training Sessions, Panels and Launch Events
  • 10 Training Sessions/Presentations delivered to High School and Fed TAFE Career Teachers

Act On Site

We have been working with three male-dominated companies in our region to address gender inequality in their workplaces – Gason, SJ Weir and UGL. Our Act On Site Consultant works closely with each company to support them to create and maintain:

  • A positive workplace culture
  • Equitable, flexible and fair workplace practices
  • Unbiased recruitment strategies that encourage and attract the retention of women and diverse employees
  • Improved worker wellbeing, attitudes, job satisfaction and productivity

Celebrating Women in Trades Photography Project

In partnership with Apprenticeship Support Australia, we were proud to launch our Celebrating Women in Trades photography project in April 2023. This exhibition, consisting of a 12m banner designed to be hung on construction site hoarding, captured powerful stories and images from twelve tradeswomen. The project celebrates the achievements of women in trades, provides strong and visible role models, and supports and inspires other women to begin their own trades careers.

Photography Credit: Mitch Nivalis

Act on Site participant: SJ Weir

First established in Ballarat in 1914, SJ Weir are one of Victoria’s most experienced commercial builders. In the five months SJ Weir has worked with Women’s Health Grampians on the Act on Site program, the company has developed a gender equity action plan. They have also updated all their policies with a gender lens, and written a strong Leadership Statement that is used in all staff induction and tender processes. In addition, all staff have participated in Sexual Harassment in the Workplace and Active Bystander training. It’s this kind of active, engaged commitment to gender equality that will change the industry for the better.

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