Across the western suburbs, the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is helping women take control of their health and fitness through its Daughters of the West program. Jaidyn Kennedy discovers how the program is making a difference to the lives of participants.
Women in the western suburbs are taking control of their health through the power of knowledge and fitness.
Daughters of the West is a free 10-week program facilitated by the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation in partnership with councils and community health services.
Kicking off in 2017, the program coincided with the Bulldog’s foundational role in the inaugural AFWL season. Ever since, thousands of women have taken part, and the Western Bulldogs have continued their commitment to supporting women of all walks of life in sport, health and wellness.
The program drew inspiration from the Sons of the West, which was established in response to the poor mental and physical health of men in the western suburbs, along with high male suicide rates. Sons of the West recently celebrated its 10th anniversary.
From day one, the Daughters of the West program has set out on a to tackle the growing inequality in women’s health outcomes by building a community of strong resilient women who want to be engaged and involved in their communities.
Running at multiple locations across the western suburbs, a typical session runs for two hours. The first hour will involve a guest speaker before moving onto fun, group-based exercises. The exercises are catered to all levels of fitness, progressing from low, medium to high.
Offering a tiered and flexible approach to exercise ensures that no woman is left behind at any stage of her journey and can start from anywhere.
The Western Bulldogs’ unique position as the only AFL-AFLW in Melbourne’s west has made the club a cultural pillar in the region for over a century.
Women supporting women produces a unique magic and that is certainly on full display when the daughters come out in force to support the AFLW Squad in a mighty display of red, white and blue.
However, the magic extends well past gameday, with women in all stages of life able to lean on each other as they navigate life’s challenges together.
Returning participants have been one of the program’s many successes, but they have also been crucial in reaching out to newcomers who may be nervous, providing a safe, welcoming environment that encourages people to flourish in their best selves.
Dewi Pearce has been a shining light in the program since she took the plunge.
Narrowly missing out at first, her life changed for the better when she secured a last-minute slot last year.
“It’s really built my confidence, and a year on I can see how much more confident and relaxed I am about exercising and just giving things a go,” she said.
“It was great to ease myself in and not feel any pressure from them to do it in a certain way.”
As the mother of a young family, Dewi knows how important is for women to have accessible and affordable exercise programs.
“It’s incredible to access a ton of high-level exercise opportunities for free,” she said.
Affordable exercise programs are becoming increasingly important as the ongoing cost of living crisis affects many individuals and families in the western suburbs.
The Daughters of the West is far more than just an exercise program, embracing a holistic approach to women’s health. Regular guest speakers attend the sessions, covering a wide range of issues from nutrition to mental fitness.
Some important subjects that guest speakers are invited to chat about include gender equality, women in leadership, mental fitness, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, cultural diversity, alcohol cultures, heart health and cancer prevention.
One the aspects Daughters of the West values most is the importance of having and building strong social networks.
“The social aspect was awesome, I, over the course of the 10 weeks, got to know a number of the ladies, and actually a group of four of us continued meeting,” Dewi said.
Maintaining a healthy diet is something that can challenge us all, which is why the Daughters of the West encourages small yet consistent changes towards healthier eating.
“It feels really approachable and achievable, so chipping away at that each week has a great impact,” Dewi said.
“Just noticing those small changes over a period of time has been so beneficial for my health.”
Daughters of the West has reached women of diverse backgrounds, ranging from cohorts who require the program in their native language to veterans who face very specific challenges.
While the time the women spend in the program is short, the healthy habits and knowledge they pick up is designed to serve them for life.
The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s partnership with Victoria University ensures that all programs are consistently evaluated, determining the best form of delivery for the needs of the community.
The program is open to women and those who identify as women, aged 18 and over who live or work in the west of Melbourne.
A Vietnamese language version of the program started in July.
Details: westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation/programs/daughters-of-the-west
