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The Women’s Wellbeing Framework is to be piloted in eight new Regional Multicultural Centres (RMCs) thanks to a generous grant from the J.R.McKenzie Trust.

Organisers are “over the moon” about news that they’ve received support from the Foundation to enable them to roll-out pilot programmes in Timaru, Oamaru, Christchurch, Rotorua, Hastings, Whanganui and Hawkes Bay – over the next year.  Whangarei, Waitakere Ethnic Board also expressed interest to participate.

They say the new funding will enable them to take the project to a new stage and ensure its future success. The Women’s Wellbeing Framework is a guided discussion designed to activate the potential of women (migrants and former refugees) to fully participate and contribute to their new communities. 

Organisers say women who are new to New Zealand bring different experiences of life and often bring cultural expectations that can limit their ability to take up the opportunities available to them in New Zealand.

They aim to reach refugee-background and new migrant women and give them an overview of the opportunities and freedoms available to them in New Zealand. A big part of the programme will be to help women find and access existing resources and people. 

The Framework is a free resource and will be available both on-line and off-line. Women can work through it in their time in their own way, with support and coaching from co-ordinators in Multicultural Councils or Newcomers Networks (NZNN’s) around the country.

The idea for the programme came from the Multicultural Women’s Hui in June last year.   The resource was launched at this year’s AGM.  Once the pilots are completed, the handbooks will be translated into Arabic, Mandarin and Hindu. Early development was overseen by members of the Women’s Council and the Newcomers Network, with funding assistance from the Ministry for Women - as part of the Suffrage 125 celebrations.

As well as enabling the project to be trialled in eight RMCs the JR McKenzie Trust grant allows organisers to evaluate it and consider future spin-off projects. Equally important, will be the on-going relationship between the MNZ and the Trust.

The first pilot programme of stage two of this project is expected to start in September.

To read more Women’s Wellbeing Framework Coordinator's Handbook

To read more Women’s Navigator's Handbook

 

New funding for Women’s Wellbeing Framework pilots

 
 
 
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