Y Connect: Working with women living with disabilities through building confidence, connections and professional development.
‘The glass ceiling is double glazed when it comes to being a woman with a disability.’
Y Connect was developed after recognising that career planning, networking and skill-building come with extra barriers for women living with disabilities (WWD). The Y Connect program aims to create a community; offering workshops, events, social and mentoring opportunities for women, no matter what their professional experience.
Every member is able to tailor their involvement and commit to what suits them, with the choice of opting into whichever events are interesting and relevant to them in their journey.
The Y Connect program is an opportunity for members to gain knowledge, confidence and contribute to their community through sharing advice and skills with peers. All Y Connect events exist in a friendly, safe and empowering environment, where WWD connect with peers and allies from the YWCA movement and the wider community, with a common goal of changing the culture around opportunities for women with disabilities.
For more information on joining the Y Connect program either as a member or an ally, please contact Francene on 0482 166 154 (call or text) or email at Francene.Bain@ywca.org.au.
Current Y Connect Opportunities
Study and Training Opportunities
Interested in study or training but would like to know more?
This Y Connect event will provide information about different courses and training opportunities, how to apply, what to expect, what support is available for people living with disability, and answer any of your questions.
Guest speakers include:
- Queensland Government Department of Employment, Small Business and Training (DESBT)
- UniSQ
- TAFE Queensland
- Aurora Training Institute
There will also be the opportunity to complete a Harrison Assessment. The Harrison Assessment is a career development tool that can help you discover your personal work preferences and identify development opportunities to achieve your personal and career goals.
This is a FREE event. Please note, Y Connect events are only for women and gender diverse people living with disability.
DETAILS:
Date: Wednesday 05 June 2024
Time: 11:30am to 2:00pm
Venue: Level 3, City Library Building, 155 Herries Street, Toowoomba. This is an accessible venue.
Parking: Limited free parking is available under the venue.
Catering: Light refreshments will be provided.
Please contact Francene Bain on 0482 166 154 with any questions or requirements.
Registrations close 5:00pm Monday, 03 June 2024. Click HERE to register.
Y Connect Career Development session
The Y Connect Program, in partnership with MAS National, is offering FREE individual appointments to help you on your pathway to success. Whether you are looking to upskill or ready to breakout and try something new, one of these sessions can help you. A qualified MAS National Advisor will sit down with you to help map out a pathway to your dream career and provide you with the tools and knowledge to get you started.
Topics include:
- Information on pathways available for your area of interest
- Resume and job-hunting tips
- Interview and cover letter support
- Quality career assessment tools
- MAS Jobs – an online job matching system.
DETAILS:
When: by appointment
Where: online or in person. Location to be determined by you
Registration: Please complete the registration form via the below link.
Please click HERE to register
Y Connect Computer Skills session
The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of FREE individual computer skills sessions. You can select topics such as introduction to email, organising your computer and managing files/documents, introduction to Microsoft Word and Excel, or you can let us know what computer topic you would like help with, and we may be able to develop a session for you.
Each topic is an independent 1- or 2-hour session. In your registration form, please select all the topics you would like help with. Spots are limited so be QUICK!
Once you have submitted your registration form, a Y Connect facilitator will contact you to organise a time and location for your session. Sessions can also be held online.
For face-to-face sessions, a computer is supplied however you’re more than welcome to bring your own laptop.
DETAILS:
When: by appointment
Where: online or in-person. Location to be determined by you and the facilitator.
Registration:please complete the registration form via the below link.
Please click HERE to register.
Mental Wellness Workshops
The Y Connect Program is offering a limited number of individual one-on-one sessions with Nicole Carter from The Amayni Centre. These sessions are designed to help you with either your motivation, resilience or understanding of anxiety. The three topics in this series are independent sessions that you can book separately. You can book one or multiple sessions however each session will focus on a different topic.
Could you be a mentor?
- Are you interested in assisting a woman living with disability realise their goals for employment and broaden their connections for potential employment?
- Do you have a minimum of 2 hours free each month to work with a woman living with a disability as a mentor?
The Y Connect Program is seeking volunteers to mentor women living with a disability in the Darling Downs region in Queensland to work with participants to develop their strengths and work towards their employment and career aspirations for a period of 9 to 12 months.
