Menopause at Work
“There is an unconscious bias that menopause means you are going into the last stage of your career.”
“I don’t feel it's something I can talk about openly without experiencing discrimination.”
“It felt secret and that I had to hide it. It's not acknowledged – we are only just starting to tackle mental health at work.”
7 week online program, Wednesday nights, 7 - 8.15 pm.
JULY 17th through to AUG 28th, 2019
Feel more confident and connected as you work your way through menopause
the change is a 7 week program that creates a confidential, respectful space, connecting professional working women who are going through menopause, empowering them to regain control of their well-being so they can function more effectively and feel more confident at work.
It can be really unsettling when you experience some of the common menopausal symptoms, such as insomnia, heavy bleeding, hot flushes or brain fog, when you are at work. You may feel you can’t talk about what is really going on lest you make others feel uncomfortable, or you are perceived as not being up for the job. Unfortunately, the isolation created by the fear of naming menopause, just adds to the stress you already might be experiencing.
What’s more it deprives you of the NUMBER ONE Determinant of wellbeing: Supportive Relationships.
the change is designed to give you back this potent source of wellbeing by building your Foundation of Support in three dimensions:
Social Support
The social support you gain from other women going through a similar experience to you, will normalise the experience and offer great relief.
Supportive Mindset
The supportive mindset that you consciously create for yourself will help you see menopause in a more empowering light and help inoculate you against negative cultural stereotypes of older women
Supportive Practices
The supportive practices that you learn and prioritise will help you maintain your ability to work well
So what is The Change?
Small group interactive learning program
A 7 week interactive learning program for 10 to 15 women
Connect with other professionals
Drawing together women from different workplaces
A place to talk
Creating a space where women can talk about menopause in a real and respectful way, adopt an empowering understanding of this life-stage while learning about the wellbeing practices that can best protect women’s effectiveness at work
Is this opportunity for you?
Feeling challenged by the symptoms of menopause, no matter how mild
especially in relation to your current professional role and/or workplace culture?
Ready to make some empowered choices
in relation to your personal and professional wellbeing?
Want to help build our understanding of the needs of working women, mid-life?
Naming and addressing your own needs will be invaluable for the women who come after you
Please be aware the change is designed to complement, not replace, treatment by a medical or allied health professional
What others have said...
Transformational
My takeaway from this project was transformational for me on a number of levels. Firstly, realising that menopause needs to be recognised as a legitimate workplace well-being issue, with support mechanisms put in place for women during this life stage.
On a personal level, my perception of myself is being transformed. Initially as a 'mature' woman, I felt disempowerment, invisibility and a lack of validation. I have learnt to change my perception of myself and I have a growing confidence as an older woman who has much to offer, in terms of experience and insight, to the world we live in.
Kerry O’Connor, Education Sector, Queensland
Permission to Reflect
I would recommend this to other women because of the insights I gained and it was really easy to feel comfortable with the other participants and especially Thea.
Taking back control through learning about this new phase of life has definitely helped me.
I loved listening to psychologist & ‘guest elder’ Cynthia Hickman early in the program. Power, wisdom and eldership were spoken about so beautifully.
As a result of participating in the program I have given myself permission to step away from my career for a while as I reflect on where to next?
Kylieann, Victoria
Freeing
Until I met Thea and participated in this group, I had no idea of the impact menopausal symptoms have had on my ability to work and my sense of emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
This forum has been wonderful. Taking in information specifically related to menopause, hearing ‘elders’ encourage and support us, and being able to talk to others facing similar experiences has been freeing and enabled me to look forward with hope to become a better version of myself. Thank you Thea.
Pauline Bradford, Academic Librarian, South Australia
Other participants' takeaways
- understanding that I am powerful, I make a difference and have much to appreciate about myself and to offer others
- a greater acceptance of myself and the impact that menopause has had on my life
- the wonderful vulnerability of others stories shared and the fabulous guest speakers/elders
- learning more about taking responsibility for the next stage in my life
- normalising menopause and knowing I am not alone
Features of The Change:
Confidential
All participants must agree to confidentially before entering the program to help create an environment where women feel safe to talk frankly.
Moderated
I will be presenting and facilitating each session to encourage self-reflective learning, while helping to keep the space free from advice giving and inadvertent self put-downs.
Natural Wisdom
As women from different workplaces pool their existing personal and professional experience, the wiser we all become.
Quality Information
As a health journalist and qualified health professional, I love finding the best information I can on a topic from around the world, by interviewing national and international experts. With menopause my current focus, I’ll be channeling the best of what I discover, into the change.
Action Learning
Carefully selected material is presented each week to support each week’s theme, then the real learning takes place between sessions when participants apply key concepts to their daily life and return with lessons learnt, ready to share.
Inter-generational
We will hear from female elders - professional working women who have completed menopause. As guest speakers on the change they will share their experience, offer a retrospective view of this transition and answer your questions.
Listen Here to a casual chat with one of our 'guest elder' presenters.
Here's what you get:
Weekly interactive 1.25 hr webinar
For 7 weeks. Recordings available.
Access to a private FaceBook group
where you connect with other participants
Curated Education Material
each week you will have access to short videos, articles and practical exercises that we can discuss in the live webinars
Access to a clearing house of quality resources.
for unlimited use after the program, includes workplace strategies
Guest presentations
from females elders who've been there
The Program:
Week 1:
Setting the Scene: Introductions, your experience and the current state of play regarding women, work and menopause.
Week 2:
Mindset Matters. Examining our beliefs and refreshing our take on menopause.
Week 3:
Body: Caring for a Changing Body. Sustaining your energy and keeping your cool.
Week 4:
Mind: Staying sharp mentally. Managing your workload & work expectations.
Week 5:
Soul: Purpose and what matters most for this next life stage? What needs to change?
Week 6:
Working Through Menopause: Speaking Up and Being Seen. From embarrassing moments to constructive conversations.
Week 7:
Supporting yourself: Building your council of elders. Distilling learnings.
Fact Sheet
Download some facts about menopause.
Limited places available in this program
Program Price
$300 (inc GST)
includes recordings and lifetime access to resources ( latest research, videos, articles and takeaway resources) plus 1-1 contact with Thea between webinars as needed
This program was piloted last year with a diverse range of professional women from around Australia. You will be benefiting from their experience, insight and feedback, which I have channeled into this updated version of the change. Here's how they found the program.
Maybe you are thinking...
Ask away I'm here to help...
Send me an email through my contact page here or give me a call now on 0412 190 860. If you know anything about me at all, you’ll know I am not into pushy sales. But I am into making sure you know everything you need so you can make an informed choice and feel good about it.
You don’t have to keep hiding this natural cycle of life that half of humanity experiences!
The Change offers a safe way for working women to start (re) claiming their whole selves.
Enrolments open now
Step 1
Fill out the enrolment form and we'll transfer you to our paypal account where you can pay by credit card or paypal. Program fee is $300 (inc GST).
Step 2
We'll send you a welcome email with everything you need to know about the program.
Step 3
We'll be in touch with you over the next few days to confirm details and make sure you have everything you need to start the program.
For now, mark the dates in your calendar - every Wednesday, 7 - 8.15 pm, July 17th - Aug 28th, 2019.