Common issues discussed were a strong desire to share experiences with other Southern Sudanese women and create a safer place to live in Australia. Gardening and other activities helped the women forget problems and feel less depressed. The women's group was important as they learned from each other and built trust with "sisters" who understood their experiences. Maintaining their culture through singing and dancing helped keep traditions alive and strengthened their sense of community while living far from family in a new country.

2. Common issues for the women: Women felt a strong desire to share their experience with other women from Southern Sudan and all share the desire to create a safer place to live with their families in Australia

3. Gardening......... “ In Australia life is too easy and you get bored and get sad and then the doctor give you tablets. In Sudan you have so many things to do and so many people to see. You wake up in the morning and you have to prepare food, prepare flour, and look for wood to make the fire. Then your husband and children will come and eat. When you have finished with everything and you clean up you are so tired that you have to go to bed and sleep. Here everything is done .You go to the supermarket and buy things done for you and then you don’t have anything to do.”

4. Gardening......... . “If I stay home I get depress because I think about Sudan and my people. When I come to work in the garden I forget about my problems and I am happy.”

5. Gardening........ “The most important thing about this group is that we learn what we want and nobody forces us to come here. You are in one with your sisters. It is very hard when you change cultures to be the same. This group is ours and we have to keep committed because it make us stronger.”

6. During our meetings with the women we explore different stress management techniques including western relaxation techniques, dance, singing, swimming, outings and gardening.

7. Meditation and Western relaxation techniques were introduced to the women...... Dancing and singing was chosen by the women as the best way to relax and be happy

8. Coogee beach ........ “It’s good to be with friends because it helps you to relax”

9. Coogee beach..... “The information we received made the group and the community grow stronger because we understand more about the place were live and we can take better care of ourselves”

10. Walk program

11. Walk program.........

12. “ In the group we learn form each other. We learn to trust other sisters that went through similar experiences. We also get used to living in a free society where we can say what we think.”

13. Women’s thoughts on this group and their dancing Maintaining our culture Is a very important to us. Through singing an Songs we are keeping Our traditions alive. The group means a lot to us Because we are in this country And we don’t have any family so everyone in this group Is your sister. (Akon)

14. Creating New Songs

15. Rehearse & Perform

16. Women’s Evaluation

17. Penrith Women's Health Centre Thanks to all the Southern Sudanese women that participated in this program and all the agencies involved. Project Officer Marisa Mottola June 2008