{"id":120374,"date":"2026-03-07T04:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T17:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/?p=120374"},"modified":"2026-03-06T12:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T01:24:20","slug":"lasting-change-for-women-and-girls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/women-in-business\/lasting-change-for-women-and-girls\/","title":{"rendered":"Lasting change for women and girls"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year, a powerful new chapter is unfolding for women and girls in our region. Across Geelong, women are leading businesses, building careers and shaping industries, and increasingly, they are choosing to lead change beyond the workplace as well.<\/p>\n

The Geelong Women’s Impact Collective is the first of its kind in our region. It brings together women and allies who share a commitment to backing women and girls \u2013 and who believe that when we invest in their safety, opportunity and leadership, we strengthen the entire community.<\/p>\n

Following a soft launch in February, the collective has already secured more than 30 founding members. The strong early momentum reflects something clear: across Geelong, there is both the appetite and urgency to address the challenges that continue to shape the lives of women and girls.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Geelong Community Foundation deputy chair Allana Goldsworthy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

While progress has been made toward gender equality, many women still experience the daily impacts of gender-based violence, economic inequality and poorer health outcomes. These issues are complex, interconnected and call for thoughtful, sustained solutions.<\/p>\n

In Greater Geelong alone, more than 5,500 family violence incidents were recorded in the past year \u2013 a rate significantly higher than the Victorian average and a stark reminder of the work still to be done.<\/p>\n

“While much progress has been made for women’s rights, women and girls continue to experience the impact of gender inequality on a daily basis, including gender-based violence, economic inequality and greater rates of ill-health,” said Amy Waters, chief executive of the Geelong Community Foundation, which has proudly established the collective.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Amy Waters, chief executive of the Geelong Community Foundation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

“As a woman, a daughter, a sister and a mum, I’m committed to creating a fair society where women and girls have equal outcomes with their male peers, where women are safe in the community and in their homes, and where they have equal opportunities to thrive.”<\/p>\n

The Geelong Women’s Impact Collective exists to respond with intention, harnessing the power of collective giving to back initiatives that improve safety, wellbeing, opportunity and leadership outcomes for women and girls across Greater Geelong. Each year, members will collectively direct an annual grant to a local organisation delivering tangible outcomes for women and girls in our region.<\/p>\n

Grounded in values-led philanthropy, the collective brings together women and allies who want to contribute meaningfully to long-term change. Members are united by a shared belief in backing women and girls with purpose, and in shaping a stronger, safer and more equitable future for the next generation.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Lauren Hogan of Fruition Recruitment.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

Geelong Community Foundation deputy chair, Allana Goldsworthy, believes the model reflects the strength of collective leadership.<\/p>\n

“When women come together with purpose, generosity becomes something much bigger than any one of us,” she said. “The Geelong Women’s Impact Collective is about backing women and girls with intention, trust and long-term vision, and doing it together.”<\/p>\n

For founding member Heather Fagg, the motivation is simple.<\/p>\n

“I’ve always been drawn to giving that supports women and families,” she said. “For me, when you support women, you’re supporting the families around them \u2013 and that strengthens the whole community from the ground up.”<\/p>\n

Lauren Hogan of Fruition Recruitment adds: “I’m proud to be part of a collective that treats women’s safety, opportunity and leadership as foundational, not optional.”<\/p>\n

The official launch of the Geelong Women’s Impact Collective will take place in April at Truffleduck.<\/p>\n

For women and allies who want to lead change beyond the workplace, the invitation to be part of the collective is open.<\/p>\n

To learn more, head to geelongwomensimpactcollective.org or email Sheridan Emond-Salmon at philanthropy@geelongfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This year, a powerful new chapter is unfolding for women and girls in our region. Across Geelong, women are leading businesses, building careers and shaping industries, and increasingly, they are choosing to lead change beyond the workplace as well. The Geelong Women’s Impact Collective is the first of its kind in our region. It brings […]<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":216,"featured_media":120375,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-120374","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-women-in-business"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nLasting change for women and girls - Ballarat Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The Geelong Women\u2019s Impact Collective is bringing together women and allies to support safety, opportunity and leadership for women and girls across Greater Geelong.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/timesnewsgroup.com.au\/ballarat\/women-in-business\/lasting-change-for-women-and-girls\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lasting change for women and girls - 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