'Stimulating, empowering, confronting and rewarding'. These were the words most used to describe the second annual Women's Forum hosted by Blacktown City Council last Tuesday.
The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre was the perfect venue for the gathering of more than 70 people.
The issues and challenges facing women in Western Sydney were canvassed with discussions led by an expert panel that was moderated by Blacktown Woman of the Year 2019, Maryam Zahid.
The panel included senior public health professional Jo Fuller, successful Western Sydney businesswoman Raquel Manning, Senior Constable Deborah Lee, who is the Community Safety Officer with Blacktown Police, and Blacktown's Young Citizen of the Year, Rose Lewis.
Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM said the forum was an opportunity for women to share their thoughts, concerns and ideas with Council in order to make the City a better and safer place for people to live and work.
Domestic violence and women's health issues were the topics most raised at the Forum.
Deputy Mayor Councillor Julie Griffiths said, "There is a list of challenges which women in Western Sydney face, but as leaders in our community and as a Council, we are committed to helping to tackle these issues.
"The forum gave women a voice in setting funding priorities and programs for women in Western Sydney," Councillor Griffiths said.
Jo Fuller said, "Young women in Western Sydney are facing a great many health challenges, especially in our ethnic communities.
"We need to talk to young women about their bodies and their health and life choices that they should be free to make."
Rose Lewis said, "While nutrition and physical health is important for young women, mental health and wellbeing is paramount. Waking up happy in the morning is far better for you than agonising over the need to gain a high ATAR score."
Senior Constable Lee said, "Fear, shame and psychological and economic bullying are preventing many women from leaving violent relationships.
"This has got to change; the community has to say, 'It's OK to leave and we will support you'."
Outcomes from the forum will be documented and presented to Council, to assist it in pressing local Members of Parliament and the NSW Government for better targeted or improved services, programs and opportunities for women in the region.
Picture: (from left) Maryam Zahid. Raquel Manning, Mayor Tony Bleasdale, Deputy Mayor Julie Griffiths, Rose Lewis, Senior Constable Deborah Lee and Jo Fuller at the Blacktown Women's Forum.
