Girl Power dispells shyness
Girl Power (left to right): Eve Ashwood, Renee Andreas, Leanne Wernowski and Joanne Montague. No, Girl Power is not Ipswich's answer to the Spice Girls. Since 2004 when the group was established, women with a mild intellectual and learning disability have joined forces to build confidence and social skills.
Member Joanne Montague used to say she was shy and wanted to be left alone, but that was before Girl Power.
"I definitely wouldn't be doing this magazine interview before Girl Power," she says.
For Joanne, only reading remains as a long-standing challenge that she still has difficulty with. "I can mostly do everything else now- cooking, washing and ironing. I have been given confidence to do all of these," she says.
"And I have made really great friends and have met people I can talk to about my problems."
Described as a social and educational resource for women aged 15 to 60, Girl Power presents learning sessions around healthy eating, physical activity and self-care, awareness of significant health issues such as diabetes as well as drug and alcohol issues, self-esteem, self-empowerment and self-advocacy.
"Even if I had a long way to travel to the group I would definitely find a way," says 17-year-old special school student Leanne Wernowski, despite the fact that she rates finding transport as one of her top four challenges.
"You don't get a lot of other community places that offer what Girl Power does," she says. "It's like an outing for me and all the members are really supportive."
The women also get involved in social awareness activities, such as Sexual Violence Awareness Month. Facilitator Renee Andreas says Girl Power enables a space for the development of healthy, meaningful relationships with like-minded women in the community.
"Social activities flow from this - the group is very lively and chatty."
In part, this confidence building can be attributed to the encouragement that Renee and co-facilitator Eve Ashwood give for the Girl Power women to run their own classes when they have a particular talent they want to share, such as creative art or relaxation.
Girl Power was initiated in 2004 by West Moreton Women's Health and Disability Services Queensland. In 2006, Girl Power celebrated success in accepting a federal, state and local government award from the Coordinating Organisation for the Disabled in Ipswich for "the pursuit of excellence for outstanding community service".
Last updated November 2007