This Girl Can - Victoria Podcast

Meet Kelly.

“Self-love is not selfish. It’s love. So it makes me a happier person, which means I’ll be a better person to everyone around me.”

Kelly’s a mum of three, and like many parents, put the wellbeing of her kids before her own.

After the birth of her youngest child, Kelly realised it was time to focus on her own health. Looking after herself first, meant she could better care for her family.

Today, Kelly has a love of Pilates and is part of a netball team made up of a beautiful community of other mum’s from her children’s school. Not only does this benefit Kelly’s own mental and physical health, but she’s showing her children that anyone – regardless of age or ability – should get active because of how great it makes you feel.

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now

Meet Natalie.

“I find exercise is a mental release…it’s now more for mental health and keeps me motivated.”

Natalie has lived in rural Victoria all her life. Being kilometres away from the closest neighbour, to over 30 minutes away from town, the tyranny of distance can have big impacts of physical and mental wellbeing.

Since moving to Manangatang in Northern Victoria, Natalie has used physical activity as a way to bring women of all ages together.

The birth of her first child 15 years ago left Natalie feeling quite isolated and craving human interaction. What started as a walking group has evolved into a social group that not only get active together, but has built a strong community despite being kilometres apart.

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

Meet Natasha.

“Exercise is mental for me. It’s emotional for me. It makes me appreciate what I can do in my body now…and it’s also just nice to connect with one’s physical self.”

Natasha is a ‘body positive’ personal trainer who celebrates the uniqueness of every body.

By empowering and inspiring her clients to move and celebrate what their bodies can achieve rather than how they look, Natasha sees being physically active as key to living a happy life.

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

Meet Kirsten.

“What I get from having a group of women is…motivation, connectiveness and also realness. We have real conversations…we cheer each other on in everyday life.”

With an Aboriginal mother and an African-American father who was in the military, Kirsten grew up all over the world – from Japan, to the United States, to Geraldton in Western Australia. Though it was when she was on Country at Mount Magnet near Geraldton that she felt whole and free.

Sports weren’t Kirsten’s thing growing up, but she yearned to be outside. It wasn’t until she was in her late 20’s that she started to see fitness as more than a means to an end, realising being active was key to her wellbeing and happiness.

Now living in Melbourne, Kirsten and her ‘5am sisters’ get together at least once a week to not only exercise, but to genuinely connect with each other – which is important now more than ever.

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

Meet Rocca.

“I think life is mysterious…amazing…beautiful. And I don't want to waste any moment of my life. I want to use absolutely every moment to do the things that I love, and that includes sports and being active.”

Rocca’s passion for dance is in her DNA. Growing up in Colombia, music and dance was a huge part of her upbringing, and it wasn’t long until her Mum and Auntie’s love of dance rubbed off on Rocca.

After moving to Australia to study at University, the unthinkable happened when Rocca was hit by a car and she has been in a wheelchair ever since.

During rehab Rocca discovered wheelchair tennis and came to the realisation that her wheelchair wasn’t an obstacle for her to live a happy, active life.

This realisation combined with her love for music and dance led Rocca to starting a Para-dance group. It’s a place where women in wheelchairs come together to feel the connection of being part of a group, free of judgement and see their wheelchairs in a new light - not just as a tool for transportation, but as a partner.

Big thanks to Em Quattrocchi for her footage of Dance and Roll's classes. Check out Em's vlog and interview with Rocca here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDsomzH9Q-0

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

Meet Sue.

“It’s never too late to try something new. It’s never too late to get up, get active and have fun.”

Sue has always loved footy. Growing up in the 70s, Sue dreamt of playing footy with the boys. Society had other ideas when she was told she couldn’t play because she was a girl.

It wasn’t until Sue’s two kids were well into primary school that she revisited her physical activity dreams. It was here that Sue decided to focus on her own wellbeing.

What began as a trial of a friend’s Belly Dance class set Sue on a new journey that, many years later, saw her join a women’s football league at age 53.

Sue’s story is one of reflection, and that despite the twists and turns of life it’s never too late to find what you love to do and follow your physical activity passion.

A big thank you to the AFL for providing audio from the first match of the first season of the AFLW.

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

Meet Karen.

“It’s been an absolute homecoming to come back to my body, to love it, and be thrilled with what it can do.”

Being physical has been a part of Karen’s identity for as long as she can remember. Her world changed when she lost her leg at aged 17, but years later she discovered her love of swimming, which is now central to her life.

Karen shares her story of the joyous release that being physical gives her, finding her new physical abilities, sexuality and motherhood.

And the first two minutes will take you to a place in her memory so vivid, you’ll feel the rain on your face.

She’s also shared some of her amazing playlists! Check them out here:

Karen’s swimming playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3UVLb5lHDieUuxOrTJGp5D?si=IHH3iNm3TqaV2BrsIRM_hQ

Karen’s cycling playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4m32WiaYiBQ1iGIzH1OSsN?si=sZ5JoSDaRyeEMeLd3eNhKw

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

"…and that person immediately just looked me up and down and said, “aren't you too fat to be a dancer?” And he just said it out like that. I just love to dance…I feel so incredibly alive when I’m dancing and I won’t give that up for anything."

Her love of movement began when she was four years old, watching Bollywood movies upstairs in front of the TV while her parents were busy in their Indian restaurant downstairs.

As an adult, after working on Bollywood film projects in India, she returned to Australia almost a decade ago and started a dance business.

In this honest and revealing interview, Jagriti talks about her love for Bollywood dancing, how it makes her feel, the ups and down’s she’s faced, and how coronavirus has impacted her business and life.

Check out Jagriti’s at home Bollywood dance class here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsDdvydnDq0&t=18s

Find out more about This Girl Can at thisgirlcan.com.au, join the community on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and use the hashtag #ThisGirlCanVIC.

If you like what you hear, be sure to subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you’re listening right now.

This Girl Can - Victoria Podcast.

Real women. Real Stories. A VicHealth Podcast celebrating women who are all kinds of active.

Coming soon.