Capacity Building

WCHM is committed to undertaking capacity building activities with small, peer-led women’s support groups. WCHM supports these groups in a variety of different ways, depending on their individuals needs. For example, we may provide the use of office equipment and meeting rooms, or assistance with organisation government, writing submissions and applying for grants.

• Read the WCHM position paper on capacity building

Below is a list of organisations that WCHM is currently supporting:

Supporting Asian Women’s Friendship Association Inc. (SAWs)

SAWs is a community-based not-for-profit organisation which dedicated to support all women especially those from Asian backgrounds. SAWs provide fortnightly activities and other practical training.

WCHM provides SAWs with office support for providing rooms for computers training and meetings.

If you like to find out more about SAWs and their activities, please go to the SAWS Website  or email to sawsfriendship@bigpond.com or phone 0422737751.

ACT Women and Prisons Group (WAP)

The ACT Women and Prisons Group provides vital support women to all women with a lived prison experience and their families. WAP runs a supportive group of interested women and organisations which meetings monthly in Canberra.

To find about more about WAP or to attend a meeting, please contact Deb Wybron by emailing wybron@classacts.zzn.com or phoning 0400 480 007.

WCHM provides WAP with office support and capacity development assistance including:

• Assisting with articulation of objectives
• Assisting with articulating useful models for the group to adopt in undertaking activities
• Mentoring and coaching on meeting procedures and governance and operational policy and procedure development
• Support in writing letters, filling in forms, development of submissions

WCHM and WAP have also recently released a report on the issues facing women with a lived prison experience. This report is available in the Reports and Publications  section of our website.

Women and Mental Health Working Group

The Women and Mental Health Working group began as a way to ensure that ACT women who were consumers of mental health services had a say in the development and provision of those services. WCHM provides the Working Group with office support and supervision, as well as supervision and day to day support of a part-time project worker.

Click here to read more about the Women and Mental Health Working Group!

Pearce Older Women’s Group (POWG)

Pearce Older Women’s Group (POWG) meets fortnightly to provide support and arrange activities to older women living in the Pearce area. POWG has proven to be a very popular group and has now been running successfully for several years. POWG is largely self-sufficient, however WCHM provides minimal support to POWG including the use of the Centre’s small meeting room and telephone/office equipment and support in typing and printing of group program.