Y Connect: Working with women living with disabilities through building confidence, connections and professional development.
‘The glass ceiling is double glazed when it comes to being a woman with a disability.’
Y Connect was developed after recognising that career planning, networking and skill-building come with extra barriers for women living with disabilities (WWD). The Y Connect program aims to create a community; offering workshops, events, social and mentoring opportunities for women, no matter what their professional experience.
Every member is able to tailor their involvement and commit to what suits them, with the choice of opting into whichever events are interesting and relevant to them in their journey.
The Y Connect program is an opportunity for members to gain knowledge, confidence and contribute to their community through sharing advice and skills with peers. All Y Connect events exist in a friendly, safe and empowering environment, where WWD connect with peers and allies from the YWCA movement and the wider community, with a common goal of changing the culture around opportunities for women with disabilities.
For more information on joining the Y Connect program either as a member or an ally, please contact Francene on 0482 166 154 (call or text) or email at Francene.Bain@ywca.org.au.
Current Y Connect Opportunities
Disability Action Week & International Day of People with Disability Celebration
Y Connect’s birthday ties in with International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and Disability Action Week. IDPwD is a United Nations day observed internationally.
Join us for a night of socialising, networking and celebrations. There will be a performance by Sarah Styles from Wheelie Good Productions. Sarah will be performing songs from her new album. There will also be a lucky door prize.
Mental Wellness Workshops
The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of individual one-on-one sessions with Nicole Carter from The Amayni Centre. These sessions are designed to help you with either your motivation, resilience or understanding of anxiety. The three topics in this series are independent sessions that you can book separately. You can book one or multiple sessions however each session will focus on a different topic.
Do you want a mentor?
The Y Connect Mentoring Program is designed to empower women and gender diverse people living with disability. Our program pairs mentors with mentees to provide individual support, guidance and resources to help them achieve their career and employment aspirations. Whether you’re looking to develop new skills, build a professional network, or simply gain more confidence in your abilities, our mentorship program offers a unique opportunity for growth and advancement. Join us on this exciting journey to reach your full potential!
To ensure a successful mentoring relationship, the Y Connect Program will consider your abilities, employment goals, skills, previous work experience, personal attributes and preferences when choosing the best mentor for you.
To apply, you must:
- Identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with a disability
- Commit to a mentoring relationship for at least 2 hours per month for up to 12 months
Limited places are available.
CLICK HERE TO APPLY
All applicants will be contacted for an informal interview to determine suitability for the mentoring program.
If you have any questions or would like assistance completing the application form, please call or email the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or francene.bain@ywca.org.au.
Could you be a mentor?
- Are you interested in assisting a woman living with disability realise their goals for employment and broaden their connections for potential employment?
- Do you have a minimum of 2 hours free each month to work with a woman living with a disability as a mentor?
The Y Connect Program is seeking volunteers to mentor women living with a disability in the Darling Downs region in Queensland to work with participants to develop their strengths and work towards their employment and career aspirations for a period of 9 to 12 months.
