Women's Safety Program

The 10-week program comprises of weekly face-to-face classes that are 3 hours per class. This allows time for the presenter to deliver information about the topic and for individuals to ask questions and complete group activities.

Each cohort, also known as Group, will undertake activities such as developing a Group Agreement, guidance on safe sharing, and at times work together in group settings such as learning how to tag-team during CPR.

Each 10-week program will include the following classes:

• Week 1: Introduction to Women’s Safety Program
• Week 2: First Aid fundamentals
• Week 3: Home security
• Week 4: Self defence
• Week 5: Respectful relationships
• Week 6: Financial wellbeing
• Week 7: Online safety
• Week 8: Managing your mind
• Week 9: Know your legal rights
• Week 10: Communicating with courage.

Classes are 3 hours in duration to include delivery of the topic by a specialist, group activities, and opportunity to ask in-depth questions.

Face-to-face workshops and classes will be held in the Griffin Centre, Canberra City.

We have successfully run 5 groups over 2023/2024, below are three new groups for the Women’s Safety 10-week Program for participants to register their interest in attending:

Group 6: Tuesday mornings 10am-1pm, 15 October to 17 December 2024

Group 7: Tuesday mornings 10am-1pm, 4 February to 8 April 2025

Group 8: Wednesday afternoons, 1-4pm, 19 March to 4 June 2025.

There is no cost for eligible participants or their carers/support persons.

Allow 3 hours for classes.

If there is a preference for a particular Group’s set of dates, please nominate that Workshop Group on the register your interest form. Otherwise you will be enrolled into the next available Group.

To be eligible for this program you must be:

• A woman or identify as a woman
• Be 18 years old or over
• Live in Canberra or surrounds*
• Willing and able to attend weekly classes
• Have a sensory or physical disability or impairment
  or
  Be considered in an ‘at-risk’ or ‘vulnerable’ circumstance, demographic or situation.

Examples of ‘at-risk’ or ‘vulnerable’:

• Invisible chronic illness or mental health
• Refugee or migrant with limited support / facing other hardships or barriers
• Single parent under financial or domestic stress
• Indigenous or culturally diverse background
• LGBTQI+
• Having previously experienced Domestic or Family Violence
• Grown up or living with others where the misuse of alcohol or drugs is a regular occurrence.

*Open to participants from surrounding areas, willing and able to undertake the travel on a weekly basis.

I am not sure if I meet the eligibility criteria for ‘vulnerable’ or ‘at-risk’. What should I say on my enrolment form?

The Women’s Safety Program is for women who are experiencing (or are at risk of) disadvantage, reduced opportunities, and vulnerability to abuse, manipulation, or harm.

Examples of ‘at-risk’ or ‘vulnerable’:

• • Invisible chronic illness or mental health condition
  • Refugee or migrant with limited support / facing other hardships or barriers
  • Single parent under financial or domestic stress
  • Indigenous or culturally diverse background
  • LGBTQI+
  • Having previously experienced Domestic or Family Violence
  • Having previously experienced psychological abuse, such as bullying
  • Grown up or living with others where the misuse of alcohol or drugs is a regular occurrence.

If in doubt, just tick the ‘unsure’ box and someone will contact you.

I am almost 18, can I still apply?

This program is for participants aged 18 and over but you can still apply now for one of the later workshop groups, provided you will be 18 at the time it runs.

Just note on your enrolment form which workshop group you wish to enrol into.

When do the classes run?

Classes are on Tuesday from 10am to 1pm and Wednesday 1pm – 4pm.

You will get a schedule of class dates, times and locations for your specific workshop group that you have enrolled into.

Do you provide transport?

No. Participants are responsible for arranging their own transport and ensuring they can attend classes on the set dates and times.

On acceptance into the program you will be provided a Welcome Pack with the dates, times and locations of your classes. This is provided to ensure you can pre-arrange your transport.

Can I record the classes for my own use?

You are welcome to take notes and complete any activities but for confidentiality and privacy reasons you will not be allowed to record sessions. This includes recording sessions through zoom.

This is to respect the privacy of others.

If I am not comfortable with members in my group, can I change to a different group?

We recognise that sometimes when sensitive topics are discussed, our sense of vulnerability and wellbeing comes into greater focus.

We encourage participants to resolve any issues within the group and stay the course. If needed, participants can request to change to a different group. 

Changing into a different group is dependent on availability and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

I am experiencing a crisis and need help. Do you have a counsellor in your program, or offer additional supports?

The Women’s Safety Program is designed as a preventative program. If you are already in a crisis situation, we recommend you contact some of the crisis support services below.

If you or someone you know is in danger call Triple Zero 000

Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS)

If you require emergency, crisis support to leave a Domestic Violence situation phone DVCS on 6280 0900

Canberra Rape Crisis Centre

If you require crisis support regarding sexual abuse, rape, or sexual harassment phone Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on 6247 2525

Onelink

If you are at risk of homelessness and need urgent housing support phone Onelink on 1800 176 468

Toora Women Inc

Toora provides women-only counselling and support services to women who need help with homelessness, domestic violence, addiction, or trauma related issues.

To make an appointment to see a Toora counsellor phone 6241 7233

YWCA Canberra Domestic Violence Support Service

YWCA Canberra provides support services for women and their families in domestic violence situations and related issues.

To make an appointment to see a YWCA Canberra domestic violence support services counsellor phone 6185 2000 or email Respect@ywca-canberra.org.au

Can I do the program again?

No, sorry, participants can only undertake one workshop group.

Each group is a 10-week program of workshops and classes. Enrolment into one group will give you the same classes and activities as what other participants are experiencing in their groups.

We do this to keep group sizes down and spread out the opportunities for participation across the year.

What is the Identified Participant storyline?

The Women’s Safety Program is designed to be as confidential as possible, to respect the dignity of participants as they tackle some sensitive and confronting topics. As a general rule, any information we collect for reporting purposes is done in an anonymous way to ensure participants can not be identified.

However, we have opportunity within each Group for a participant to volunteer to be the face of that group and share their story. It is purely voluntary and can be as low-key or out-there as you want. At minimum it is the reporting of a participants’ personal journey as they complete the program with their name, photo, some quotes and personal insights about what they thought about the program. 

If this sounds like something you might be interested in, talk to us and we’ll help you work out if it is something you want to engage in.