WOMEN FOR WOMEN
WOMEN FOR WOMEN is a Women's mental health and wellbeing event which focuses on why women should, and need to prioritise their mental health and wellbeing.
Featuring leading practitioners and industry experts as well as community members courageously sharing their lived experience story.
Join us for our next event on Saturday 12th April 2025 in Kensington Park Community Centre.
This year’s topics and speakers:
Domestic Violence Awareness and Resources - Annmarie Cotter and Orla Ryan
Annmarie, originally from Co.Cork, works as a Domestic Violence Caseworker at Wesley Mission and has many years of experience working in Domestic Violence and Community Services in both Ireland and Australia. Annmarie is passionate and dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and communities.
Orla, originally from Co. Mayo, is an experienced social worker with a diverse background in both Ireland and Australia. Orla is currently working in the Domestic Violence sector with the Escaping Violence Payment Program - a government-funded program that offers financial assistance and case management support to help people move forward and set up a home free from violence.
Perimenopause and Menopause Information Session - Dr. Therese Foran
Dr Foran holds the position of Conjoint Senior Lecturer in the School of Women’s and Children’s Health at UNSW Sydney, where she is regularly involved in the teaching of undergraduate students. She has worked in both private and public clinical practice, most recently as a Visiting Medical Officer at the Menopause Hub established at the Royal Hospital for Women in Randwick. She is a current Board member of the Australasian Menopause Society.
Dismantling Toxic Diet Culture - Varsha Yajman and Kate Mulray
Varsha is a 22 yr old Indian Australian climate advocate who mobilises huge environmental protests and is also passionate about changing the stigma around mental health issues. She has a lived experience of mental ill-health, in particular anorexia and anxiety. By the age of 14 she was diagnosed with an eating disorder and discusses how racism, stereotypes, appearance ideals, family stances on mental health and social media fuelled and prolonged her eating disorder. Varsha's work focuses on dismantling diet culture and unrealistic appearance ideals and the importance of amplifying the voices of those who are disproportionately affected by mental health issues.
Kate Mulray is the Lived Experience Engagement Manager at the Butterfly Foundation, where she works to incorporate lived experience into every aspect of the organisation’s mission. With a background in communications and counselling, Kate is passionate about amplifying diverse perspectives on body image concerns and eating disorders. She collaborates with individuals through storytelling to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and encourage help-seeking behaviours.
Drawing from her own lived experience, Kate is committed to challenging and breaking down diet culture, which often links self-worth to appearance and body size—a concept deeply rooted in patriarchy. She believes that every body deserves to exist with respect, free from judgment or discrimination, and advocates for the importance of appreciating and celebrating all bodies.
Unlocking Quiet Power - Niamh O’Brien
Prior to being an entrepreneur, Niamh was a highly successful leader and management consultant. She is passionate about demonstrating that making an impact and showing up as our best selves doesn't require us to be gregarious or verbose. In her keynote speeches Niamh shares her journey from being a primarily silent and socially anxious individual, and a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), to becoming a formidable and inspiring professional. She reveals the skills and strategies that enabled her transformation, and shows how anyone regardless of their quiet nature, can lead a conversation, a room, a presentation, or any situation with authenticity, quiet strength, and finesse.
Energetics and Breathwork - Aoife Murphy
Aoife is an Energetics and Breathwork practitioner with a deep passion for mental health, trauma healing, and empowerment. She also works in community services, supporting and advocating for women who have experienced domestic violence.
Through her breathwork and energetic healing sessions, Aoife creates a space for deep healing, self-reconnection, and transformation. Her work is centered on helping individuals release what no longer serves them, regulate their nervous systems, and step into a life that feels aligned. She believes in walking alongside people on their journey, guiding them back to their own power and inner wisdom.
Wisdomtelling - Katerina Gillen, Eva Walsh, Roselle Gowan
This event is proudly sponsored by Vaughan Civil and venue hire is supported by Randwick Council.
2024
Our second Women for Women event was held in Randwick Community Centre on Saturday 20th April 2024.
We had over 60 women, from all ages and backgrounds, come together to listen, share and converse openly and vulnerably.
This was an incredibly uplifting, supportive, empowering and insightful event.
Thank you to all of our contributors, Lucia Ward, Georgie Igoe, Shannen O'Hara, Amie Baker, Órlaith Sheill, Ruth Hennigan, Emer McDermott, Tina King Garde, Fionnuala Wylie and Caroline McSorley.
Thank you to those who generously and bravely shared their own experience with grief, loss, shame and mental ill-health. Your stories have the ability to resonate widely and will help so many other people who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Thank you also to those who attended, who came with an open mind and listened empathetically. Each one of you plays a pivotal role in shaping the narrative around women's mental health. In attending, you're champions of change and advocates for compassion.
Huge thanks to our main sponsor, Vaughan Civil for backing this event and thank you to Randwick Council for your ongoing support.
2023
Our inaugural Women for Women event was held in Randwick sustainable classroom on Sunday 30th April 2023.
This event focused on why women should, and need to prioritise their mental health.
Featuring leading mental health practitioners and industry experts as well as community members courageously sharing their lived experience story.
Guest Speakers included:
Helen Ward - Educator and Clinical Counsellor
Loretta Cosgrove - Filmmaker and Founder of SQI
Katie O'Donoghue - Relationship Coach with the Indigo Project
Molly Benjamin - Founder of Ladies Finance Club
Roisin Trainor - Founder of Mind Yourself, Mental Health First Aid Training and Wellbeing Practitioner
This was an incredibly uplifting, supportive, empowering and insightful event.
Although women are more likely to seek professional help for mental health issues, there is still an indelible need to focus on real and honest conversations amongst our friends and family.
Thank you to those who generously and bravely shared their own experience with mental illness, grief and addiction. Your stories have the ability to resonate widely and will help so many other people who may find themselves in a similar situation.
Thank you also to those who attended, who came with an open mind and listened empathetically.
This event was the work of the ISA's Mental Health and Wellbeing working group, we thank them for their efforts and it was a true honour to host this event.
“Excellent day, so beneficial and empowering”
“The day was amazing. I learned so much and it was great listening to everyone’s stories”
“I didn’t realise how much I needed this event. Thank you”
We would like to acknowledge the generous contribution from Randwick Council for making this event possible.