Divas who know when enough is enough

Dreamtime Divas.

A personal development program in New South Wales is teaching young regional women that enough is enough when it comes to domestic violence.

Wiradjuri woman Kimi Alcott, from Wellington near Dubbo, got involved in Enough is Enough’s Dreamtime Divas project after breaking away from her own experiences of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

She knows how important it is to take control of your life, walk away from a destructive relationship and follow your dreams.

“You might get knocked down or pushed aside a few times, but jump back up and just keep going forward. Nothing is unachievable,” Alcott says.

Dreamtime Divas takes a small group of young Indigenous women from regional Australia to Sydney to attend workshops on CV writing, sexual health and healthy relationships.

Over six days the women also learn about hairdressing and beauty therapy and how to present themselves at an interview. The program concludes with a makeover and professional photo shoot.

“The environment the girls live in has exposed them to drugs and alcohol. They are not attending school and are at a crossroads in their life. I just wanted to show the girls a different way of life and to show them there are avenues out there where they can get an education even if they’ve fallen out of school,” Alcott says.

Although only in its initial stages, Dreamtime Divas has already had some major successes. Alcott speaks of one young Bathurst woman who left a violent relationship following the initial workshop.

“This young girl of fifteen was experiencing domestic violence in a really big way,” Alcott says. “Her seventeen year old boyfriend, had left her powerless and fragile. I connected with this girl and I could see she was touched that someone understood what she was going through.”

Alcott says the fact the young woman found the confidence to leave a destructive relationship was a really big outcome and one she hopes will be built on when the girls go to Sydney for the week.

“I’m really hoping that when I get her down here next month I’ll be able to give her more of a boost and help her on her way.”

Alcott attributes the success of the program to the honesty of the presentations and the kindness of the businesses and organisations who dedicate their time and resources.

“There are so many agencies and people out there that will give you support and help you to get where you want to go,” she says.

“That’s my message to these girls: you can be whoever you want to be.”