SPARK Women’s Leadership Program – now taking applications (form at end of page)

If you’re a woman or non-binary person interested in developing your leadership skills, building more confidence and recognising your own strengths, we’d love to hear from you!

SPARK will be running in these locations in 2026:

• Albury-Wodonga (group already in progress)
• Wangaratta (group already in progress)
• Wagga Wagga (from August)
• Griffith (from August)

Places are limited due to small group numbers – get your application in as soon as possible.

If you are interested in joining a future SPARK program or learning more about SPARK, please fill in the form at the bottom of this page. Our program coordinator will contact you to talk about SPARK and whether it matches what you are looking for.

What is SPARK?

SPARK is a free leadership program for women run by RDAS. SPARK aims to be a safe and supportive small group setting where your strengths are celebrated and encouraged.

Who is it for?

SPARK is for women aged 18 and over who:

• Identify as having a disability (you don’t need a formal medical diagnosis)
  • This can include intellectual disability, mental illness, neurodivergence (like ADHD or autism), sensory disabilities (like vision or hearing issues), physical disabilities, health conditions or chronic illness

AND

• Have experienced family or domestic violence (FDV) in the past (but are not currently experiencing it)
  • Please click here for more information about FDV

AND

• Want to learn more about leadership and community

What will I learn?

You will:

• Find your own leadership style and build your confidence
• Learn about disability rights, advocacy, and how to make a difference in your community
• Understand more about domestic and family violence, and how to get support
• Meet and connect with other women with similar life experiences
• Learn about self-care, emotional wellbeing, and working with others to create positive change

What will I do in the program?

• Attend 10 weekly workshops
• All sessions are face-to-face
• Each workshop is 2.5 hours long and includes a meal break
• Food is provided

Want to know more?

Please fill out the form below or contact our program coordinator on 1800 250 292 for more information.

SPARK is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Go to this www.health.gov.au for more information.

SPARK Expression of Interest Form

Please note the information RDAS receives from filling out this expression of interest is kept private and confidential.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Your name *

First

Last

Your pronouns

e.g. she/her, they/them, other

Which location you would like to join?

• Albury-Wodonga (currently full; next intake TBC)
• Wangaratta (currently full; next intake TBC)
• Griffith (next intake commencing August 2026)
• Wagga Wagga (next intake commencing August 2026)

Email (if you have one)

Your phone number *

Best way to contact you?

• Call
• Email
• Text/SMS
• On a certain day/time (please tell us more)

When is the best time to contact you?

Please also tell us which is the best way to contact you – call, email or text/SMS.

Is there someone that is helping you fill out this form?

• Yes
• No

(Optional) Please provide their name, phone number and email address

Is it safe for us to contact you?

• Yes
• At a certain time (please tell us more)

Please give us details about when it is safe to contact you.

Do you identify as a woman? *

• Yes
• No

Are you gender diverse or non-binary?

• Yes
• No

Please tell us more about your gender identity if you would like to

Are you over 18? *

• Yes
• No

Will you turn 18 in the next 12 months?

• Yes
• No

Date of birth

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Have you experienced or been impacted by family and/or domestic violence in the past? *

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

If you are not sure, please read the information about FDV at the bottom of this page.

Are you currently experiencing family and/or domestic violence? *

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

If you are not sure, please refer to the information about FDV at the bottom of this page, or continue to complete this expression of interest form and our Program Coordinator Ashleigh will contact you to discuss if SPARK suits your support needs.

What is your disability?

• Prefer not to say
• Mental illness
• Intellectual disability
• Neurodivergence
• Health condition/chronic illness
• Sensory disability
• Physical disability
• Other (please tell us more)

Please tell us about your disability

Do you have any access or support needs?

• N/A
• Auslan
• Language translation
• Plain English
• Easy Read
• Other (please tell us more)

Please tell us about your access or support needs

Is there anything else about yourself that you would like us to know?

You can share anything that helps us support you – like how you learn best, any support needs, or anything you are proud of or passionate about. (200 words max.)

Can you please tell us why you would like to participate in the SPARK program?

This can include things you want to do in the future or what you hope to learn in the program. (200 words max.)

Do you have any dietary requirements or restrictions?

• No
• No dairy
• No gluten
• Coeliac
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Nut allergy
• Other (please tell us more)

Please tell us more about your dietary requirements or restrictions

Which times and days are you available? You can choose more than one.

Morning *

• I can’t do any mornings
• I can do one or more mornings

Afternoon *

• I can’t do any afternoons
• I can do one or more afternoons

Evening *

• I can’t do any evenings
• I can do one or more evenings

Mornings *

• Mondays
• Tuesdays
• Wednesdays
• Thursdays
• Fridays

Afternoons *

• Mondays
• Tuesdays
• Wednesdays
• Thursdays
• Fridays

Evenings *

• Mondays
• Tuesdays
• Wednesdays
• Thursdays
• Fridays

Can you come to 10 weekly SPARK sessions (one session each week)? *

• Yes
• No
• Not sure

Please note: SPARK will only run during the school term, there will not be sessions during the school holidays.

If you chose No or Not sure, please tell us more about why you won't or might not be able to attend.

How did you learn about SPARK? *

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Friend or family told me about it
• Support Worker told me about it
• Support Coordinator told me about it
• Other (please tell us more)

If you chose Other, please tell us how you learned about SPARK.

Submit

What is family and/or domestic violence (FDV)?

“Violence” doesn’t just mean hitting or hurting someone. Family and domestic violence can happen in many different ways. Some examples are:

• Physical violence – this can be:
  • Pushing
  • Slapping
  • Punching
  • Grabbing your neck
  • Kicking
  • Pulling your hair
  • Breaking your things
  • Damaging your home
  • Threats to hurt you
  • Threats to hurt someone you care about
  • Hurting your pet
  • Threats to hurt your pet
• Financial abuse – this can be:
  • Not letting you use your money
  • Stealing from you
  • Deciding what you can and cannot buy
  • Making you buy things you do not want or need
• Sexual violence – this can be:
  • Forcing or pressuring you to have sex when you don’t want to or say no
  • Forcing or pressuring you to do sexual things you don’t want to
  • Touching your private body parts without your permission (breasts, vagina or bottom)
  • Saying unwanted sexual things about your body or their body
  • Sending you sexual messages or photos without your permission
  • Forcing you to send naked pictures of yourself
• Social isolation – this can be:
  • Not letting you see your family and friends
  • Not letting you talk to your friends or family
  • Not letting you go places
  • Not letting you go to work
• Emotional and psychological abuse – this can be:
  • Shouting or yelling at you
  • Calling you mean names
  • Saying things that make you feel bad about yourself
  • Making you doubt what you have said or your memories (also called gaslighting)
  • Saying that you are worthless or stupid
  • Checking your phone, emails and social media without your permission
  • Calling or messaging you multiple times until you answer
• Spiritual and cultural abuse – this can be
  • Not letting you go to your church or place of worship
  • Stopping you from doing things that are part of your culture
  • Stopping you from doing things that are part of your religion
  • Teasing you about your beliefs
• Coercion – this can be
  • Using force, threats or orders to make you do things you don’t want to do
  • Purposely doing things to you that make you feel scared or uncomfortable

Who can FDV happen to?

FDV can happen in all kinds of relationships, including:

• Family members and relatives
• Partners or ex-partners
• Boyfriends and girlfriends
• Married people or couples that live together
• LGBTQI couples
• People you live with
• People that take care of you like support workers or carers