INTO its fourth year in the South Gippsland region, the ‘Go Girls Foundation’ continues to empower local women, boosting their confidence, job prospects and independence.
It is supported by the Stony Creek Racing Club Community Fund, an annual golf day at Leongatha Golf Club that this year is on Sunday, May 4, and ‘Women for Change’ under the auspices of the Bass Coast Community Foundation.
The Go Girls Foundation runs a four-month program in Wonthaggi, helping connect women with their community, participants coming from Yanakie through to Phillip Island, including localities such as Korumburra, Leongatha, Fish Creek, Foster and Dumbalk.
“We assist women in South Gippsland who have experienced social isolation, domestic violence and mental health issues,” Go Girls CEO and co-founder Michelle Jobson said.
She highlighted the unfortunate fact there is a high level of domestic violence in the Gippsland region and a lot of women experiencing social isolation.
“By connecting them back into their community, it gets them re-engaged in their life, and once they feel more engaged in their community and supported, they then tend to find employment,” Michelle said.
“That employment then leads to independence and what that means for many women is they can take control of their own finances, then their lives,” which also benefits their children.
Michelle noted that the funds received will be used to sponsor 15 women, changing their lives, and making them feel more in control.
Women are encouraged to enquire about the program running from August until November that will be followed by a Graduation luncheon at the RACV Inverloch Resort.
The program is also supported by South Gippsland and Bass Coast Shire Councils, the former sponsoring the golf day as does the Inverloch branch of Ray White.
Michelle praised the communities of the South Gippsland region for their generosity, including the local businesses that provide raffle prizes and silent auction items to help raise money for the cause.
South Gippsland participants completing the four-month Go Girls program are each assigned a mentor for six months.
“We train local businesswomen to be mentors,” Michelle said, noting Stony Creek Racing Club Committee member Sarah Bourke is one of the organisation’s leading mentors in South Gippsland.
While it is Sarah’s first mentorship with Go Girls, she has done a lot of mentoring previously, and has established a relationship with Go Girls through her background in the education sector and sees the value of the work it does.
“It’s up to the mentor and mentee to establish a connection and set some goals,” Sarah said, noting the process is driven by the mentee and what it is they are aiming to achieve. It doesn’t need to be overly formal, perhaps catching up for a coffee or chatting on the phone.
“The most important thing about being a mentor is, like any sort of volunteering, what you put in you get back three-fold,” she said.
Benefits for the mentor include meeting new people, gaining an understanding of different challenges one might face and connecting in a mutually supportive way.
Having a mentor can provide a new connection in the community, helping the mentee develop in the area they wish to, whether that be personally or professionally, potentially enhancing social skills or communication, with Sarah pointing out that everyone is different.
“I really believe in the program and I’ve seen participants grow and thrive, so it was really a no-brainer,” she said of her involvement with Go Girls as a mentor.
The Go Girls Foundation has been running for about 18 years in Melbourne, with Rita Bottomley its other co-founder.
Michelle stressed that any woman who feels she would benefit from the program is encouraged to attend an information session to be held in Wonthaggi.
“They might say, ‘I haven’t suffered domestic violence, I’m just a bit lonely,’ well come along and we’ll see if we can put you on the program,” she said.
Mentors are always wanted and don’t need to be businesswomen, and may be retired.
Volunteers and sponsors are also wanted for the golf day.
To enquire about the Go Girls program or becoming a mentor, please call or text Michelle Jobson on 0406 998 612 or Rita Bottomley on 0413 810 700.
If keen to learn more about being part of the golf day, whether as a player or sponsor, please call Craig Jobson on 0414 662 445.