ONE hundred women from across the Dunkley community came together at Patterson River Golf Club on 8 August for a special Louisa Dunkley Network Women’s Health and Wellbeing Forum hosted by Dunkley MP Jodie Belyea.
The special guest, Jodie Haydon, the PM’s wife, joined local women for an afternoon focused on connection, wellbeing and the practical ways women can support themselves and each other through challenging times.
Held under the theme “Women Being Well”, the forum continued the legacy of the Louisa Dunkley Network, founded by the late Peta Murphy MP to bring women together, build connections and create a stronger, more supportive community for women across Dunkley.
“Peta understood how important it was to create spaces where women could come together, connect and share their experiences,” said Belyea.
“This forum was a wonderful opportunity to continue that legacy and bring women together to talk openly about what helps us stay well, particularly during challenging times.
“It was fantastic to see 100 women in the room, representing so many different parts of our community. There is enormous strength in women creating spaces and supporting women, and that was exactly what we saw at this forum.”
Women heard from a panel of local women with a range of lived experiences and backgrounds about the strategies, relationships and activities that help them maintain their wellbeing during tough times.
The discussion explored what it means to stay well through difficult periods and the importance of finding practical ways to prioritise wellbeing while balancing the many demands of life.
Jodie Haydon took part in a sit-down chat exploring her own approach to wellbeing, including how she manages the competing demands of her life as a full-time worker and being the wife of the Prime Minister and the strategies she uses to look after herself.
Her conversation provided an opportunity for women to reflect on the importance of making time for their own wellbeing, even when life is busy.
Juanita from Women’s Spirit Project sang and led an interactive session asking participants to consider what a thriving woman looks like and identify the things that contribute to their own wellbeing. Women were able to take home postcards capturing the wellbeing strategies they identified during the session as practical reminders of what helps them feel supported and well and lead going forward.
The forum also created space for mindfulness and creativity, with Melissa King from the Miscarriage Information Support Service leading a sound bowl meditation. The event was MC’d by Kit McMahon from WHISE.
The strength and diversity of the local women’s community was reflected in the organisations represented at the forum.
The forum was delivered in partnership with the Women’s Spirit Project and Women’s Health in the South East, and welcomed special guests including Jodie Haydon, Sonya Kilkenny and Frankston City mayor Cr Sue Baker.
First published in the Frankston Times – 18 August 2026