Women Gathering
Women Gathering aims to encourage women to get together regularly for friendship, support and fun in order to respectfully hear each others stories.
Women Gathering is an initiative of Women's Health Goulburn North East that has encouraged women throughout the Hume region to get together regularly for friendship, support and fun.
Women Gathering centres upon people developing mutually supportive relationships and thereby reducing people’s experiences of social isolation.
Women Gathering provides women with an opportunity for collective exchange of stories and ideas in a relationship with an equal power dynamic and the possibility of an ongoing friendship.
Where there are women – where there is community –Women Gathering applies.
Key factors to create a friendship culture:
- Listening and Storytelling
- Confidentiality
- Inclusiveness
- Wisdom Together
- Communication Skills
Women Gathering groups work when...
- The group is low cost and simple to run
- The group is small with an activity or focus
- There is a passionate leader for the group
- There is shared leadership
- There is group ownership
- Food is shared
- Gatherings are regular
- There are group rules that are explicit
- Groups are inclusive
- There is celebration and fun
Women Gathering:
Being inclusive and accepting diversity
Respecting women's confidences
'Just getting together' because it's important
Ask 'who else could be here?'
Download Women Gathering Facts Sheet
Size 342KB
How can I be involved in Women Gathering?
- Get to know the women in your community
- Invite a woman who wouldn't normally attend to the next community event you attend.
- Organise a get together with other women.
- Attend a Women Gathering workshop.
- Start 'a group' for women in your community to attend.
Workers can be involved by...
- Identify women in your community who may like to lead a group.
- Provide her with encouragement and support to do this.
- Organise a Women Gathering program or workshop in your community. For more information...
Women Gathering Resources
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Facilitator Training and Resources
More information about implementing a Women Gathering program and further resources.