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I am writing this month’s newsletter on the shinkansen to Tokyo, heading home after two weeks in Japan with the fam. We ate soba noodles (… and gyoza and okonomiyaki and soufflé pancakes 😉), took photos of cherry blossoms and hiked to glorious temples.

It was amazing. But as it always seems to happen, the trip came at the wrong time (or right time, depending how you look at it), as March was an intense month for myself and the FW team. Not only were we kicking off our routine events and programs for 2025, but we were also launching our new initiative Career YOU, as well as innovating on our funding and operational model. 

You see, Franklin Women has got to where we are today because of a wonderful model of co-investment from individuals who join us as members, as well as organisations who collectively invest in our mission through our Partner Alliance.

This will always be an essential part of our model as it embodies the ethos of Franklin Women and enables our connection with the sector. With that in mind, earlier this week we excitedly launched a new membership tier – Leader Members (I have been happy dancing as our inaugural Leader members have come through!).

But I have come to realise that investment from our community will not (and should not) be sufficient to enable us to do our work at the scale that is needed.

So with the help of our Advisory Board, we are reviewing what sustainability looks like for Franklin Women and what support we need to achieve it, exploring everything from philanthropy, government investment, partnerships and more. 

My mind is whirling as I learn lots of new concepts and meet lots of new people, but my motivation is to ensure Franklin Women can continue to do our work for as long as we have a fabulous community of individuals and organisations to serve.

I hope you enjoy this month’s newsletter with stories shared by some of the fab individuals from within our community (as well as links to our favourite cosy craft loves – you can thank us once it’s winter!)

Happy reading,

UNSW provides MATE (Motivation Action Through Empowerment) Bystander leadership programs for staff and students to create respectful and equal communities. This came as a response to students and staff suggesting bystander workshops would provide essential skills to the UNSW community to be able to understand, recognise and respond to various disrespectful behaviours. MATE was developed by Griffith University. In November 2023, with the support and encouragement of our Head of School, Professor Lisa Keay, I enrolled in the MATE Bystander Train the Trainer to facilitate workshops.

The programs empower individuals to recognise problematic situations in a relationship or in a workplace, whether it be family and domestic violence, sexual violence, racism, discrimination, bullying or harassment, and provides strategies to intervene when it's safe to do so...

You may have heard experts say to focus on your strengths. But what if we have strengths we don't know we have until we try something new. I’m a molecular biologist who worked in medical research for over 14 years before moving into government. But I am also a professional balloon artist!

When I first started as a balloon artist, I was a complete beginner, in both balloon art and entrepreneurship. Even though I felt unsure, one thing I have learned about trying new things is that you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. It can be scary to try something new and different, but holding yourself back may stop the potential growth that comes from challenges and failures...

Cosy crafts! The weather is getting cooler and we’re still trying to avoid doomscrolling, so here are some favourite cosy crafts to occupy your evenings instead:

Till next month, your Newsletter Curator, Amy

Thank you to University of Canberra Faculty of Health and Faculty of Science & Technology for investing in Franklin Women and our mission to create a health and medical research ecosystem where women thrive.