Building a safe, respectful and inclusive Ballarat for women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities

Women’s Health Grampians invites women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities who live in or around Ballarat to attend a focus group.

What is it about?

The focus group is about having your say on the work and aims of the Ballarat Community Saturation Model (you can read more about the Ballarat Community Saturation Model here https://www.respectvictoria.vic.gov.au/ballarat-community-saturation-model).

We want to hear from you.

Your lived experience is important.

You can help us create a city where you feel safe, respected, and valued.

To do this, we will ask you a few questions.

We will ask things like, are there barriers that stop you from feeling safe, respected and valued?

Or are there things already in place that support you to feel safe, respected and valued?

Your answers will be anonymous, and we will protect your privacy.

We will only share what you want us to tell the Ballarat Saturation Model.

If you would like more information on WHG Privacy and Confidentiality Policy, please contact admin@whg.org.au

The people who will ask the questions are women with lived experience.

If you have any questions about the focus group. Or if you feel unsure about participating in the focus group, but still want to have your say. We can arrange one-on-one interviews at a time and location that is comfortable for you. Please contact Carly Myers either by email carly@whg.org.au or by phone on 5322-4100

Reimbursement:

There will be a payment for your time attending this focus group. We will do this via a Statement By Supplier form.

Parking:

2 disabled parks are located in the library carpark off Doveton Street North.
3 disabled parks are located on Market Street at the back of the library. 

General parking is also available in these two locations. Metered parking is on Market Street.

Accessibility:

Auslan Interpreters will be available

Hearing Loop will be available

Information about accessibility of the venue and amenities can be found here:

https://libraries.ballarat.vic.gov.au/services/visit-us/ballarat-library

Support:

You can bring someone to support you, this may be a family member, friend, support worker or carer.

Relaxed space:

Participants are welcome to come and go as they please, be themselves, make noise, stim and respond to the conversation in ways that are comfortable for them for the duration of the focus group. 

Quiet Space:

We have a separate room for people who might need a quiet space during the focus group.

Morning tea is provided.

Important information: 

Inclusive definition of disability

Disability is a long-term physical (including physical and facial differences), intellectual, mental health illness, sensory disability, neurological disability, learning disability, chronic illness, chronic pain and immunological disability.

At Women’s Health Grampians, we use the plural form ‘disabilities’ and the term ‘women, trans and gender diverse people with disabilities’ as it acknowledges person-first language and that individuals can experience different disabilities at the same time, like a mental health illness, chronic health or chronic pain conditions associated or caused by the person’s primary disability.

A person may be born with disabilities or may develop one later in life due to illness, accident, injury, or ageing and not all disabilities are visible. A person’s experience of disability is also influenced by environmental factors, such as community attitudes and the opportunities, services, and support they can access, as well as by personal factors.

At Women’s Health Grampians, we recognise that the Deaf community sees themselves as a cultural and linguistic group rather than solely a disabled group. They emphasise their shared heritage and the importance of Auslan as their primary language, seeing it as a unifying factor and a vital part of their identity. 

Women’s Health Grampians respects that it is the individual’s choice to disclose or identify as someone with disabilities.

This event is supported by Respect Victoria, Women’s Health Grampians and Berry Street Family Violence and Disability Practice Advisor.