There are many women-focused events for you to get involved in this month at the Centre and beyond!

Check out our calendar of events.

Since 2000, the Green Steps Program at Monash University has sent environmentally minded students into their community to conduct environmental assessments and facilitate change towards better environmental sustainability.

Recently, QVWC was fortunate to have Green Steps student Zoe Jones undertake a Green Steps audit of the Centre. Zoe surveyed staff from Centre organisations, undertook a lighting use assessment, a waste audit, and investigated water-wise solutions for the Centre. Zoe's audit has resulted in several, practical suggestions for the Centre, including easy ways to reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill and ways to save energy.

For example, did you know that simply by turning off your computer when you leave your office, you can save approximately 150kg of carbon emissions? That's roughly the equivalent of emissions you would produce driving from Melbourne to Alice Springs!

Thanks to Zoe for her hard work and commitment to improving the environment, one green step at a time.

To find out how your organisation can invite a Green Steps student to audit your workplace, check out the Green Steps webpage.

The Victorian Centre of Excellence in Eating Disorders invites you to join Dr Rick Kausman, Dr Samantha Thomas and Minister for Sport, Recreation and Youth Affairs James Merlino for this important seminar in celebration of International No Diet Day.

Dr Kausman, author of If Not Dieting, Then What? will discuss and provide evidence that weight loss dieting not only does not result in long-term weight loss but also has the potential to cause significant harm both emotionally and physically.

Dr Thomas’ recent study on the lived experiences of those who are overweight has received widespread media attention. She is currently exploring the ways in which the media reports public health messages about obesity, and the ways in which people with obesity interpret these messages.

Minister Merlino will outline the Victorian Government's Positive Body Image Strategy.

With performances by Kelly Nash.

Event details.

RSVP today to Rebecca at: 8387 2669 or rebecca.lehrer@mh.org.au

Download the CEED International No Diet Day Flyer (PDF) 159.82 kB.

Join Australia's only female, certified Tactical Krav Maga instructor, Adori Bubble, for this FREE, 3-hour intensive workshop on the basics of the Fight Like a Girl technique.

Instructor Adori Bubble leads Fight Like a Girl.

Adori will be joined by Victoria Police Crime Prevention Officer Melanie Apps to give you helpful tips about personal safety in the city. Participants will learn techniques like verbal distancing, using obstacles to create space between you and an attacker and basic blocking techniques.

So, bring your girlfriends and come along for a fun and informative night.

Two workshop dates are on offer:

When: Thursday, 10 May or Thursday, 7 June; 6.00 to 9.00 pm

Where: Queen Victoria Women's Centre, The Victoria Room (lvl 4), 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Cost: FREE!

Download the Fight Like a Girl flyer (PDF) 662.77 kB.

Spaces are filling fast, so RSVP today to secure your spot!

Fight Like a Girl workshops are made possible with the support of City of Melbourne.

Gasps were heard throughout the room as an elderly woman's face slowly changed. Wrinkles disappeared, eyelids lifted, skin smoothed and age-spots vanished as graphic designer, Rebecca Sloane of Kinart carefully moved her mouse.

Students rap about positive body image at the Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Forum. Photo: Tara Moore, Moore Photography.

This act of digital magic was part of the Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Forum, held at QVWC on Thursday, 26 April for a group of 34 year-11 girls, representing 17 diverse schools from across Victoria. The Forum aimed to inform girls about what goes on behind-the-scenes of the media they consume, to help them recognise that the beauty ideals presented in much of today's media are not only unrealistic, they're impossible.

Through presentations about positive body image from the Butterfly Foundation, seeing examples of digital manipulation from Kinart and sorting through body image issues with the FRANK Team, the students were able to see that, in today's media, 'not even the model looks like the model'.

Claire, a student from Essendon-Keilor College, said, 'Before this project, I never knew that media images were so altered. I think it's important to know because you're surrounded by it, 24/7'.

The girls will take their newfound knowledge of digital imaging and strategies for positive body image back to their schools, where they will create a presentation for their peers, with the help of in-school mentors.

The girls' mentors had the opportunity to also learn about digital media and improving their students' positive body image through a day-long Mentors' Workshop. Sessions included presentations from the Butterfly Foundation and the Eating Disorders Foundation of Victoria. Mentors also learned about peer education and ways to encourage students' media literacy.

The Young Women, Body Image and the Digital Age Project is made possible with the support of the Victorian Government through their $2.1 million commitment to the Teenagers - Go For Your Life! Positive Body Image Strategy.

In June of this year, women everywhere will be able to find out more about body image when QVWC posts the newest section of our online InfoHub, focusing on Positive Body Image. Stay tuned!

Find out more about the project by viewing our news items.

Since 2003, BreaCan has served women with breast cancer, their families and friends, through provision of information and support services. From May 2007, BreaCan is expanding its services to welcome women with gynaecological cancers.

BreaCan operates from the Ground Floor of QVWC and offers a range of services and programs including:

A resource centre which provides a comfortable, safe environment where individuals can browse through up-to-date resources and information. The resource centre opening hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10.00am - 2.00pm.
BreaCan provides a service where people can talk to a trained volunteer who has experienced breast cancer, or cared for someone who has.
Fortnightly information sessions with special guest speakers covering a diverse range of topics, as well as the free Feel Good gentle exercise program.
BreaCan also offers services specific to the needs of women with advanced cancer.

Congratulations to all the BreaCan staff and volunteers on the fantastic support they provide women with cancer and best wishes as this vital service expands to help even more women.

Eat cake with YWCA Victoria at Fed Square as they celebrate International No Diet Day.

As part of International No Diet Day, YWCA Victoria aims to dispel diet myths and celebrate women of all shapes and sizes. International No Diet Day

seeks to raise awareness of the negative impacts of dieting, poor body image and the pressure on contemporary women to conform to impossible beauty ideals.

Eating cake is a celebration of who we are as individuals and communities working together to tackle the diet-related health issues affecting women.

When: This Sunday! 6 May 2007; 1.00pm to 3.00pm

Where: Federation Square, St Paul's Court, Corner Swanston and Flinders Streets, Melbourne

Cost: FREE!

More information? Contact Karen at YWCA Victoria on ywca@ywca.net or 9349 5788.