Women’s Health Loddon Mallee are proud to announce that $90,000 in quick response flood recovery grants have been distributed to community groups across the Loddon Mallee region (Northwest Victoria). Recognising the unique challenges that the floods presented for women, the funds will be used to foster connection, support wellbeing, and enhance economic recovery.
WHLM recognises that natural disasters exacerbate existing gender inequalities and cause unequal health, social and economic outcomes that disproportionately affect women.
“We heard from flood impacted women in the region, many of whom have been displaced, that they have lost access to vital resources and local supports that operated prior to the 2022 floods. These grants have been allocated across the region to community-based organisations that provide women with opportunities to regroup, reconnect, and recover,” said Tricia Currie, CEO of WHLM.
The funding, awarded to a range of different community groups, including Neighbourhood Houses, Community Health Services and women’s sporting groups, arts collectives, and social supports, will deliver community-led projects that support women’s wellbeing and recovery. The 19 funded community groups will deliver a broad range of community development activities, comprising of tree plantings, art therapy sessions, and gender equality in disaster training, amongst other initiatives.
Wellbeing and mental health resources will be front and centre within the funded projects, while also providing women with space for social connection, and opportunities to reflect on the last 6 months.
“Women face unique challenges in times of disaster and recovery. Through these funded initiatives, amongst other advocacy projects, WHLM will continue to counter gender inequalities, which we know are amplified during emergencies and disaster situations,” said Tricia Currie.
“This includes continuing our work to prevent male perpetrated violence toward women, which we know is exacerbated during times of disaster situations and recovery efforts.”
For a full list of grant recipients and their funded activities, please see the table below.
| Grant Recipients | Funded Activities |
| The Zonta Club of Bendigo Inc | Relax at the Rochester Rotunda – Bringing Rochester women together to rewind, reconnect and relax. |
| Bendigo Womens Shed Pty Ltd | Women’s DIY workshops – Upskilling women in home maintenance. |
| Thorne Harbour Country | Empowering LGBTIQA+ Recovery – Bringing LGBTIQ+ women together to undertake lessons in disaster and recovery training. |
| Birchip Neighbourhood House Inc | Working on Women’s Wellbeing – Hosting a series of evening workshops for girls that focus on mental health and wellbeing. |
| Rochester and Elmore District Health Service | Rochester Women’s Week – A series of events in Rochester that bring women together to share, including a panel discussion movie night and arts workshops that connect women to local services. |
| Kyabram District Health Service | Posy Workshop – Bringing women and kids together to participate in a craft and floral workshop. |
| Dunolly Gilbert & Sullivan Society Inc. | Sassy Songstresses – Bringing women together to connect and enjoy singing from the golden age of Gilbert and Sullivan musicals. |
| Cohuna Neighboourhood House | ACE Club bus trips for women – A series of bus trips for women to foster community connection and friendships. |
| Dingee Bush Nursing Centre | Women’s Pamper Day – Bringing together farming women for hair, nails, dinner and connection to local services. |
| Loddon Plains Landcare Network | Women by the Water – Living and learning through connection to nature with craft and planting activities and sharing from local Aboriginal Elders. |
| Dingee Bush Nursing Centre | Dairy Queens – Nurturing growth and connection for rural women and connection to local services and supports. |
| Durham Ox Farming Women’s Group | Healthy Minds and Bodies – Supporting women to come together for weekly exercise classes. |
| Boort Resource and Information Centre | Lino Printing Program – Developing skills in creativity as Art therapy for flood impacted women. |
| Wedderburn Community House | Mad Hatters High Tea Party – Bringing the Loddon community together to have fun and reconnect. |
| Prospectors Sports Club Inc. | Paint a Picket for Prosperity – Creating safe spaces for women and girls to share their stories and build community connections. |
| Riddells Creek Neighbourhood House Inc. | Resilient Riddell Women’s Leadership Project – To upskill and empower local women to step up into emergency response and management roles. |
| Sunraysia Carers Support Group Inc | Carer Workshops – A series of art therapy workshops for carers in flood impacted communities. |
| ZONTA club of Central Goldfields | Mindfulness as Painting – a series of workshops dedicated to exploring mindfulness techniques for relaxation and recovery. |
| Country Women’s Association of Victoria Dingee and District Branch | A Weekend Break Away – For Flooded Farming Women to reconnect, revive & reset |
