Media Release: 12 March 2003

Young Women Lead the Way - New Training Program

Women's Health West will receive a $5,000 cheque for a new Young Women's Leadership Program at 10am on Friday 14 March at 60 Droop St Footscray, presented by Bruce Mildenhall, Member for Footscray, and granted under the Victorian Women's Community Leadership Grants Program.

'Lead On' will provide a training program for ten culturally and linguistically diverse women aged 16 to 24 from across the Western Region. The program aims to build on these young women's skills and knowledge in areas such as communication, group facilitation, interpersonal skills, leadership, problem solving, analysis and public presentation.

"Women's Health West recognises that these young women already have various skills that enable them to deal with the complexities of life," says Lee FitzRoy, Team Leader of the Women's Health Information, Research and Development Team at Women's Health West. "We see the program as an opportunity for exchange. Women's Health West has valuable skills to pass on to these young women through a training program the women themselves will help formulate. These women also have valuable knowledge and experiences Women's Health West can learn from, to ensure our work is relevant to community concerns."

Various organisations have been asked to nominate young women with leadership potential and an interest in the program, including the Western Young People's Independent Network (WYPIN), the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, the Vietnamese Community in Australia Victorian Chapter, West CASA (Centre Against Sexual Assault), local government, youth services, community health centres and schools. After the training, Women's Health West will again draw on these networks to establish mentoring relationships for the young women to pursue endeavours in their areas of interest.

"It's about creating a range of opportunities for young women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to enhance their assertiveness and self esteem, and to learn new leadership skills," says Jan Adams, the project manager. "We hope they will both use these skills in their own lives, and contribute to issues emerging in their own communities. Our aim is to involve young women who may not generally have access to these kinds of opportunities."

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MEDIA CONTACT

For more information or to arrange an interview please contact our Chief Executive Officer Melissa Afentoulis or our Communications Officer on 9689 9588 or via email.