Y
Connect

Open now: Professional Development Bursaries

The Y Connect Program is offering professional development bursaries to support women and gender diverse people living with disability in their chosen field. The bursaries are valued at up to $1000 and will contribute up to 80% towards a professional development opportunity or event, training or education, or required resources to support individual career aspirations. If applicants are experiencing financial hardship, the Y Connect program may waive the 20% applicant contribution, however this will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. 

Applicants are permitted to include multiple items in an application, however, only one bursary per applicant will be awarded. Examples of items that are eligible include noise cancelling headphones, high fidelity earplugs or training that will support you with your employment goals. 

If successful, you will need to provide the Y Connect Program Coordinator with a valid tax invoice. Funds will be paid directly to the supplier. The Y Connect Program is not able to pay successful applicants directly. 

Examples 

• If you apply for one eligible item that costs $2000 and the application is successful, the Y Connect Program could provide $1000 (maximum amount) towards that item. 

• If you apply for one eligible item that costs $800, the Y Connect Program could provide $640 (80%) towards that item. 

• If your application contains multiple items that add up to a total of $1200, the Y Connect Program could provide $960 (80%) towards the cost of the items. 

All applications will be assessed by YWCA Australia and/or Y Connect Advisory Committee. Successful applicants will be notified by email. 

If you have any questions, please contact Francene Bain (Y Connect Program Coordinator) on 0482 166 154 or email Francene.bain@ywca.org.au 

Applications close Sunday 30 November 2025. 

Eligibility Criteria 

To be eligible for a professional development bursary, you must: 

• Identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with disability 

• Be a resident in the Darling Downs Region and be willing to show proof of residency 

• Be willing to share a testimony of how this bursary has made a positive contribution to your career aspirations 

• Be planning to use this bursary by end of June 2026. 

If you would like a Word version of the application form, please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain. 

Develop your Interview Skills

Are you nervous about doing interviews? Do you want to improve your interview skills?

The Y Connect Program is offering up to 3 free individual appointments per applicant, normally costing $140 per session, with Stacy Nottle at Magnolia House where you can develop and practice your interview skills. Stacy will provide you with an insight into what employers and HR professionals are looking for and tips on how to do well despite your nerves.

Details:
When: by appointment. Stacy is available Tuesdays, and every second Saturday. If these times are not suitable, alternative times may be available
Where: In-person at Magnolia House, 66 Lindsay Street, East Toowoomba.

Please note, Y Connect activities and events are only for women and gender diverse people living with disability.

Career Counselling Sessions

Do you need help finding and applying for work or study?
Are you facing an important life transition?
Do you feel dissatisfied, restless, or bored with your current position?
Are you thinking about a change in career?
Are you plagued with anxiety and uncertainty in relation to work and study options?
Do you simply have no idea what you want to do?

The Y Connect Program is offering applicants up to three free individual career counselling sessions, normally costing $140 per session, with Stacy Nottle at Magnolia House. Stacy will assist you to:

• Clearly define your purpose
• Explore your underlying values and barriers in a safe way that validates
• Unpack and reframe your thoughts about yourself and what you want to achieve in your future
• Brainstorm possibilities that you may not have thought of before
• Guide you towards an understanding of choice in the context of success criteria and ‘fit’
• Move forward with intent
• Finish each session with an achievable action plan

In her practice, for all clients, Stacy will

• Promote feelings of competence and self-worth
• Respect that you are the expert in your own life
• Apply her knowledge and understanding of career development theories in ways that are practical and creative

For more information about Stacy, visit the Magnolia House website.

DETAILS:

When:by appointment with Magnolia House. Stacy is available every second Monday, every Tuesday, and every second Saturday. If these times are not suitable, alternative times may be available
Where: In-person at Magnolia House, 66 Lindsay Street, East Toowoomba.

Individual Computer Skills Sessions

The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of FREE individual computer skills sessions. You can select topics such as introduction to email, organising your computer and managing files/documents, introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel, or you can let us know what computer topic you would like help with, and we may be able to develop a session for you.

Each topic is an independent 1 or 2 hour session. In your registration form, please select all the topics you would like help with. Spots are limited so be QUICK!

Once you have submitted your registration form, a Y Connect facilitator will contact you to organise a time and location for your session. Sessions can also be held online.

For face-to-face sessions, a computer is supplied however you’re more than welcome to bring your own laptop.

To attend these workshops, you must identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with a disability.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or email francene.bain@ywca.org.au

DETAILS:
Cost: FREE
When: by appointment
Where: online or in-person. Location to be determined by you and the facilitator.

Money wYse Sessions

The Y Connect Program is offering individual Money wYse sessions designed to help participants build skills, knowledge and confidence in money management. Each session utilises the MoneyMinded resources which were developed in 2002 by ANZ in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education and Training, Financial Counselling Australia, the Financial Counsellors Association of NSW, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and community sector representatives. There are a wide variety of topics available and sessions can be tailored to meet the needs of participants. Some examples of topics include: Goal Setting; Saving and Spending (budgeting); Everyday Banking; and, Superannuation & Everyday Paperwork.

Please note sessions are held online, they are one to two hours each, and there is a maximum of five sessions per participant. In your registration form, please select the topics you would like help with. Spots are limited so be QUICK!

Money wYse sessions are designed to provide information and ideas. The session facilitator is not a financial counsellor and does not provide financial services or advice.

Once you have submitted your registration form, a Y Connect facilitator will contact you to organise a time and location for your session. Sessions are held online.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain, on 0482 166 154 or email francene.bain@ywca.org.au

DETAILS:
Cost: Free
When: by appointment
Where: online. The time will be determined by you and the facilitator.

Develop your Business Plan

Whether you’re just starting your own business or you’ve been running your business for years, having a business plan is essential for your business to succeed.

Y Connect is delivering a free six session program where you will get to create your own business plan. You will have support from two amazing local businesswomen, Laura Scurr and Alyce Nelligan, who will walk you through the key sections of a business plan such as strategy, the market and your customers, risk management, legals and licences, marketing, operations and finances.

If you have any specific needs or require accommodations to fully participate, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We want to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and supported. Please contact the Y Connect Program Coordinator, Francene Bain on 0482 166 154 or email francene.bain@ywca.org.au

DETAILS:
Cost: Free
Where: KindHer Threads 416 Ruthven Street Toowoomba. This is an accessible venue.
When:  This is a 6-session program. Sessions will run every second Thursday from 2 October, 4:30pm to 6:30pm. See the following dates:

• 2 October 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• 16 October 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• 30 October 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• 13 November 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• 27 November 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm
• 11 December 2025, 4:30pm to 6:30pm

Parking: street parking is available

Light refreshments will be provided.

This is a free event. Please note, Y Connect events are only for women and gender diverse people living with disability.

Registrations close 5pm Monday 29 September 2025.

Mentoring

• Are you interested in being mentored as you work towards your goals for employment?
• Do you identify as a woman or gender diverse person living with disability?
• Are you able to commit to a mentoring relationship for at least 2 hours per month for up to 9 months?

YWCA Australia and the Y Connect Program would like to help you build your skills and networks to support you with your employment and career goals. The Y Connect Mentoring Program will support women and gender diverse people living with disability to develop strengths and work towards their employment and/or career aspirations.

The Y Connect Program will match you with a mentor that will help you realise your potential. To ensure that you are matched with someone who will understand you, the Y Connect Program will take into account your abilities, employment goals, skills, previous work experience and your personal attributes and preferences.

There is no cost to participate in this program and all mentors identify as women.

Limited places are available.

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.

Develop or Update your Resume

Are you wanting help to write or update your resume?

The Y Connect Program is offering up to three free individual appointments per applicant, normally costing $140 per session, with Stacy Nottle at Magnolia House where you will be supported to write or update your resume. Stacy will work with you to determine your individual needs, explore your skills and abilities and write a resume that is relevant and targets your intended audience. She will explain resume trends, how to use AI effectively and give you skills to market yourself successfully to potential employers.

Details:
When: by appointment. Stacy is available Tuesdays, and every second Saturday. If these times are not suitable, alternative times may be available
Where: In-person at Magnolia House, 66 Lindsay Street, East Toowoomba.

Please note, Y Connect activities and events are only for women and gender diverse people living with disability.

Join our Facebook Group

The Y Connect Program has created a Facebook group for women and gender diverse people living with disability in the Darling Downs region. The purpose of this group is to create a safe and supportive space to share information and resources that support group members leadership and employment aspirations. It is a closed group so if you would like to become a member, please hit the below button to send a request join.

Please note the Y Connect Facebook group is only for women and gender diverse people living with disability.

Mental wellness sessions

Is anxiety and burnout holding you back in the workplace? The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of free individual one-on-one mental wellness sessions with Inclusive Counselling Collective. These sessions are designed to help you with either your resilience, understanding of anxiety and potential burn out. 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.

Please click here to see what each session covers.

If you are interested in booking more than one topic/session, please rank your preference from 1 to 3 (1=first preference and so on) and the Y Connect Program Coordinator will contact you to confirm availability and advise you about your session.

DETAILS:
Cost: Free
When: by appointment
Where: online or in-person. Location to be determined by you