Learning From The Transformation of A Chrysalis to a Butterfly
The Women’s Spirt Project (WSP) fills a gap in the social services sector for the provision of support to disadvantaged women. It is designed to empower vulnerable women so they can transform their lives by increasing their physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The 2019 pilot program recruited 17 vulnerable women from Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula who participated in a 20-week program, delivered over six months from November 2018 to June 2019.
To ensure that the outcomes from the pilot were captured, WSP Founder Jodie Belyea engaged the services of Monash University, Faculty of Education (Peninsula Campus) staff, Associate Professor Ruth Jeanes and lisahunter PhD to evaluate the pilot.
The evaluators, in consultation with the WSP Working Group, conducted surveys, individual interviews, participant observations and focus groups. The research involved all 30 women participating in the project – participants, mentors and working group members.
This document provides a summary of the outcomes of that evaluation. It measures significant improvements in the health and wellbeing of not only the participants, but of all those involved. Finally, the evaluation provides recommendations for improvements in program delivery which
will be implemented in future programs.
