Since opening up five new Community Hubs in Ipswich, our Hub Leaders have been embraced by the local community. There has been much interest and excitement from a range of service providers and none more so than the Zonta Club of Ipswich. Zonta is a human rights organisation focusing on women and children with branches across the world. The Ipswich branch was very quick to meet with the Hub team to discuss how we could collaborate in supporting the Ipswich community.

Zonta was able to donate sewing machines, material and sewing kits to each hub and in addition, twelve Zonta volunteers are donating their time each week to teach the sewing classes. Some of the activities that sewing class participants will engage in will also see them give back to their communities, like sewing breast pads for women who have had mastectomies. As well as providing the participants with newfound sewing skills, they are also improving their business skills, with many women expressing interest in sewing shopping bags to sell at the local markets, especially now that plastic bags are being phased out of Queensland retailers.

Zonta continues to demonstrate a great passion for our Community Hubs and supports us with time, resources and an additional $5000 funding that has allowed the Hub Leaders to explore how they can further build capacity in women, such as delivering First Aid courses. The team in Ipswich is very grateful for the support offered by Zonta and on behalf of the Hub Leaders and the women and children who attend the Hubs, Access would like to say a huge thank you.

If you’d like to speak to our Community Hubs about ways in which you can be involved and work with us in our communities please contact Grainne. E: [email protected] or phone 3412 8222.