Lighting the Path for Women and Girls on Gumbaynggirr Country
We’re flipping the switch on health, leadership, and visibility for women and girls by nurturing a future where joy, movement, and connection fuel women’s wellbeing.
What is the Switched On Collective?
The Switched On Collective is a local initiative with national impact—a growing movement of women, girls, allies, and community partners based in Coffs Harbour on Gumbaynggirr Country.
Led by Watipa and driven by community voices, the Switched On Collective is reimagining the systems that shape our health, wellbeing, and leadership journeys.
Imagine a world where every woman, every girl, and every family thrives—where health isn’t determined by postcode, race, or gender. That’s the future we’re building.
Our vision is to work in place, across the Mid North Coast of NSW, to ‘switch on’ ideas for women and girls through inclusive community-led activities, joyful movement, and informed conversations. We’re here to spark change—providing trusted, bite-sized health information on topics like parenting, puberty, menopause, relationships, sexual and reproductive health, nutrition, and mental wellbeing.
The Switched On Collective champions visibility, equity, and belonging. By spotlighting real role models—local and beyond—we aim to keep girls engaged in sport beyond the age of eight, encourage women to stay active, and foster stronger community connections. At its heart, this is a campaign about amplifying what’s possible when women and girls are truly seen, supported, and celebrated.
Why We Exist
To keep girls engaged in sports and activities past the age of eight.
To help parents build skills and knowledge that strengthen family health.
To empower open, honest conversations from everything from puberty to menopause.
Despite decades of advocacy, women and girls across Australia—and especially in regional communities—continue to face deep structural barriers in accessing equitable healthcare, leadership opportunities, and visibility in sport, education, and public life.
We’re here to change that. And we believe change starts locally.
Why Invest in Women & Girls’ Health on Gumbaynggir Country?
Women and girls hold vital, multi-dimensional roles—caregivers, leaders, cultural custodians, economic contributors.
The Gumbaynggirr Nation covers the mid-north coast of New South Wales, Australia. It extends from the Nambucca River in the south to the Clarence River in the north and inland to the Great Dividing Range. This vast territory includes the coastal strip, beaches, headlands, rivers, estuaries, creeks, mountains, and flood plains, spanning 80 km of coastline.
Women and girls on Gumbaynggirr Country are an incredible resource and offer a wealth of knowledge, expertise and leadership in our community. Some women and girls—especially those who are Aboriginal, or who are from migrant or refugee backgrounds, and/or from low socio-economic backgrounds—are also vulnerable to ill-health, and the data points to enduring health disparities when broken down by gender¹⁻². For example, compared with men in this region, they are more likely to experience chronic illness, mental health issues, and face systemic barriers to culturally safe care²⁻⁴. Some refugee and migrant women navigate trauma, language barriers, and social isolation⁵⁻⁶. Some Aboriginal women experience higher rates of diabetes and limited access to culturally safe primary health care³⁻⁴. Information about transgender and non-binary women in this region is limited, and national trends would suggest they may face barriers to accessing inclusive and gender-affirming care⁷. In a regional setting like Coffs Harbour, these challenges are compounded by service shortages, transport barriers, and geographic isolation—widening the gap in health equity for women⁸⁻¹⁰.
What We’re Doing
Watipa is drawing on evidence-based approaches to build equitable health for women and girls with local partners. We are:
- Switching On Systems
Working with local orgs, health providers and businesses to co-design more inclusive, responsive solutions. - Switching On the Data
Sharing clear, compelling stories and statistics about women’s health and participation in our region to spark change. - Switching On Visibility
Highlighting the incredible women and girls in our community—on the field, in the boardroom, and beyond. - Switching On Opportunity
Hosting workshops, panels, events, and collaborations to connect people, build capacity, and catalyse action.
How You Can Get Involved
Contact us to find out more and support this initiative. You can:
💡 Sponsor a Switched On Story
Support or host a local storytelling event to help us celebrate intergenerational community role models
🎤 Fund a Switched On Speaker Series
Bring diverse, inspiring voices to local discussion events, sports clubs, health forums, schools and workplaces
🎒 Co-Design a Switched On Workshop
Partner with us to create inclusive, empowering experiences for young women and girls in your field or sector
🎯 Offer Skills or Support
From merchandise to media coverage, venue hire to volunteering—every contribution matters when we share goals and values
💖 Make a one-off or regular donation—as a registered charity and social enterprise, all contributions over $2 are tax-deductible and gratefully accepted any time of year.
We are in conversation with some terrific local partners and supporters.
We’re wishing to collaborate with local health services, schools, sports clubs, businesses and grassroots changemakers. This is a collective effort, and your support will make it stronger.
Investing in women and girls is investing in community wellbeing.
Interested in partnering with us?
📬 Get in touch at partnership@watipa.org for a copy of our Sponsorship and Partnership Pack
📍 Based in Coffs Harbour. Driven by community. Backed by vision.
FOOTNOTES:
1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021). Census QuickStats: Coffs Harbour LGA.
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022). Australia’s Health 2022: Data Insights.
3. Healthy North Coast (2025–2028). Health Needs Assessment and Strategic Plan.
4. Healthy North Coast (2023). Aboriginal Peoples Health Needs Assessment.
5. Mid North Coast Local Health District (2023). About Us – MNCLHD. Retrieved from: https://mnclhd.health.nsw.gov.au/about/
6. Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (2021). Research and Resources on Migrant and Refugee Women’s Health.
7. National LGBTI Health Alliance (2020). Snapshot of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Statistics for LGBTI People.
8. Women’s Health NSW (2022). Rural and Regional Women’s Health Issues Paper.
9. National Rural Health Alliance (2022). Health Inequities in Rural and Remote Australia.
10. Australian Human Rights Commission (2021). Healthy, Safe and Thriving: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace.