Women With Disabilities WA Inc began as Women On Wellness in October 2003 after the successful 2002 Women on Wellness conference hosted by Rocky Bay and coordinated by Rocky Bay staff member Jane Donelly.
The conference led to a training course for women with disabilities held at the Loftus Street Community Centre in Leederville also coordinated by Jane and with the assistance of Rayna Lamb, a woman with a disability. The training group further highlighted the need for a forum to take place regularly that specifically considered the needs of women with disabilities.
Research and development undertaken found that there was a lack of opportunities for women with disabilities to meet, share information and build community and social networks that promotes inclusion and empowerment of women with disabilities in Perth. The Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre very generously donated the use of office space and equipment as well as administration support for the coordinator to develop monthly forums and other activities for women with disabilities.
We incorporated in June 2007, and with a Management Committee made up entirely of women with disabilities were now able to apply for larger grants and plan for a sustainable future for the organisation.
In May 2013 thanks to a grant from the Developmental Disability Council the current Management Committee members took part in our first Governance training workshop, and started to develop WWDWA Inc’s first Strategic Plan.
WWDWA Inc would like to extend grateful thanks to the staff and volunteers of the Ethnic Disability Advocacy Centre, whose advice and support have helped make us the organisation we are today. In particular we wish to thank EDAC’s admin support person Veronica FitzGerald and former Executive Officer and founder of EDAC, Jenny Au Yeong.