Women of Courage

Outward Bound’s Women of Courage program is an inspiring wilderness journey of adventure, challenge and healing for women who have experienced trauma or loss, typically from Domestic and Family Violence.

"Since leaving a long-term and increasingly abusive relationship I have been supported for 21 months by counsellors, support groups and training to help with the ongoing abuse.
Nothing has had the life-changing impact of this program."

Name Withheld, Women of Courage Participant

Outward Bound’s Women of Courage program takes survivors on a 5 day wilderness adventure therapy program where they will learn to value themselves, trust other people again, work as a team and build resilience while in the therapeutic natural environment.

It’s for women who have progressed through their own personal healing and are ready to challenge themselves supported by compassionate female leaders.

It will renew your sense of self, build new relationships with women in similar situations and empower you to step confidently into your future.

Click the image to watch a video of Women of Courage

Courageous letters from Women of Courage participants

Thank you for making this possible

Without these past few days I kind of know I’d inevitably be following the same paths, as misdirected as some may be, and despite knowing better. The support has been critical. Intense at times, but over the days has framed experiences in knowing the trust is real, and allowing vulnerability as a crucial piece of some expansion and growth. It’s intense but need to be full on. To tell the truth, Outward Bound had a reputation and I wasn’t sure I’d live up to it. It’s just the perfect environment for this type of healing process. It’s been painful and uncomfortable sometimes but not as painful and uncomfortable as continuing to perpetuate living byproducts of trauma.

Thank you for making this possible

The perfect environment for this type of healing process.

I am so grateful for this valuable opportunity to come together with a diverse group of women; to hear their stories, the opportunity to support and be supported immersed in the healing power of nature, to be challenged by amazing facilitators to be brave, learn, grow and find a way forward. Thank you for making this possible and thank you to Sarah, Ash and Cherie for the wonderful words. May this opportunity be offered to many more women who need it.

The perfect environment for this type of healing process.

Tomorrow I will leave the program. I will leave well fed. I will leave with new experiences. I will leave with a new love for walking and hiking (surprisingly!). I will leave with many pages written in my journal, many positive and emotional. I will leave with new friends. I will leave with new support networks who completely understand the long journey. I will leave tired and sore. I will leave feeling strong. I will leave feeling heard. I will leave feeling capable, powerful, loved, important and courageous. All things I haven’t felt in years.

I’m not saying that all women on this camp have healed from being a victim of domestic violence. No, we’ve got such a long way to go. It’s incredibly back-shatteringly painful and shameful for us every single day to wake up and realise that a terrible truth has taken place. But you’ve given us hope. You’ve shown that people can be amazing. That out there, people do care. People are invested and want you to be heathy and happy, and that alone is enough to give us the courage to embark on our own healing journeys.

"I am STRONG, I am BRAVE, I am RESILIENT, I am KIND and I CAN DO ANYTHING. These are some things I am starting to believe thanks to the pathways that this Women of Courage journey has extended to me."

Name Withheld, Women of Courage participant 2021

Outward Bound occasionally runs Women of Courage for individuals enrolling independently but prefers to partner with organisations who work with a group of women. We understand the enormous emotional investment committing to a program like Women of Courage and we’ve found it easier working with support workers who understand where you are on your journey.

If you’d like to participant in Women of Courage please introduce us to the organisation supporting you through your journey at mailbox@outwardbound.org.au.

Women of Courage only runs with the incredible support Outward Bound receives from Government grants and the community. If you would like to enable and empower a Courageous Woman, please make a tax deductible donation to the Australian Outward Board Development Fund.

The organisation you work for might also like to support Women of Courage through their Corporate Social Responsibility department. Please ask them to contact Ian Wells on 0419 203374 to discuss how your organisation can sponsor a life-changing program for a group of women.

If you work with women who could benefit from a Women of Courage program please call Ben Lovell on 0428 577058 to discuss how we can partner with your organisation. On occasion, we’ve received grant money and had difficulty finding participants. Please call Ian and ask about the possibility, or email

ben.lovell@outwardbound.org.au

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