Released 05/07/2021
A range of innovative projects will receive $180,000 in the latest round of women’s participation and safety grants.
The ACT Government is committed to continuing to support women and girls through innovative programs that advance gender equality, address women’s safety, and empower women to succeed.
There were 20 successful individuals, organisations, and community groups in this round of funding. The projects funded will support the health, wellbeing and safety of ACT women.
The Women’s Participation Grants focus on improving outcomes for disadvantaged women and improving gender equality in the ACT. Projects funded in the participation category include:
- a series of creative workshops for Muslim women and young girls to learn and understand about their rights to live safely in Canberra
- the development of a bilingual guide to support women in the Chinese community seeking employment
- the establishment of a mentoring workshop to support and provide educational and practical training in mental health, emotional, social and spiritual health and wellbeing, and also provide networking and mentoring opportunities
Women’s Safety Grants support primary prevention priorities identified in the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and Their Children 2010-2022. Recipients include:
- Toora Women Incorporated to deliver a therapeutic arts-based program which assists vulnerable individuals to heal from trauma in a safe, creative environment whilst building connections
- Canberra Multicultural Services for the Staying Safe, Staying Strong and Stopping Violence project which will support the creation of a website to provide online e-training and information sessions
Quote below attributable to Diane Percy, Strength for Life Coordinator at COTA ACT:
“The grant will allow COTA’s Strong Women for Life project to support older women to improve their health, strength, balance, fitness and prevent injury in later life. In addition to Strength for Life fitness assessments, the project will enable participants to undergo a Fallscreen risk assessment and receive falls prevention exercises and advice, as well as access to newly developed online exercise instruction. The project aims to help reduce the risk of falls and make a difference to the quality of life of older Canberra women.”
A list of grant recipients and project descriptions can be found at https://www.communityservices.act.gov.au/women
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Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases