Desert Blue Connect’s 6-Week Women’s Wellness Program is back this May, facilitated by Women’s Health Counsellor Louanne Hardy. Designed for women wanting to explore a more holistic approach to their health, the program offers weekly sessions covering physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing—with expert guest speakers and practical tools to help women take an active role in their health journey.
We spoke with Louanne to find out more about what participants can expect.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your role?
I’m Louanne, the Women’s Wellness Counsellor at Desert Blue Connect. In the Women’s Wellness Centre, I support women with their health—particularly focusing on their mental and emotional wellbeing—and I’ve been doing that for quite a few years now.
Can you tell us about this program in your own words?
It’s about focusing on women’s health through a holistic lens. We explore the connection between physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. To live a balanced and meaningful life, we need to pay attention to all areas of our health—not just mental and emotional, which I focus on, but also physical and spiritual health.
What can people expect from the program?
Each week, we focus on a different aspect of health—whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional. The program takes a proactive approach, providing education, guest speakers, and opportunities to make small lifestyle changes. It’s about prioritising and maintaining good health in practical, sustainable ways.
What inspired you to create the program?
As a Women’s Health Counsellor, I often see women struggling emotionally and mentally, and it’s clear those challenges often go hand in hand with physical distress—poor sleep, poor nutrition, or lack of self-care. It’s rarely just one issue. That inspired me to create something that looks at the whole person. Knowledge is powerful, but real change happens when you act on that knowledge.
Who is the program designed for?
It’s designed for women who are generally travelling okay with their health—they may already have some good routines or practices in place but feel they’ve plateaued or want to go a bit deeper. It suits women who take initiative and are proactive about their health. Each week, they’re encouraged to set goals or create habits to put into practice in their everyday lives.
Why is the holistic approach so important?
It’s about making sustainable lifestyle changes. That means listening to both your body and your mind. Sustainable change happens through small steps, taken consistently.
What are some key takeaways participants might gain?
It depends on the week and the focus area. For nutrition, we look at gut health and its impact on mood, hormones, and food choices—so the takeaway might be how to support your gut microbiome through diet. For physical health, we focus on mobility, pelvic floor, and abdominal strength—very women-specific. Mental health covers shifting from a fixed to a growth mindset and prioritising self-care. We also explore spiritual or soulful wellbeing, which is about connecting with your emotions and body to create peace and personal transformation. Each week offers tools and strategies tailored to that theme.
Tell us about some of the guest speakers.
We have Fran Foulkes-Taylor, a dietitian who’s deeply invested in women’s health, especially the relationship between gut health and female hormones. Sally McKenzie is a well-known physiotherapist who specialises in pelvic floor health. Angie Jefferys is a local mental health counsellor with years of experience in helping people manage stress and emotional balance. And Ersilia Tarantino is a life coach who focuses on body and breath work, helping women connect with their inner selves. All of them are local, highly experienced, and accessible even after the sessions—great additions to anyone’s support network.
What’s your favourite part about facilitating this program?
Connecting with the women and seeing them connect with each other. I usually open the first session with a quote by Sandra Day O’Connor:
“We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone… what happens is the result of a whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another.”
That’s what I want for this group.
What advice would you give someone who’s unsure if the program is right for them?
They can always give us a call for a chat. But they might also do a quick self-assessment—how are you going physically, emotionally, mentally? Are you struggling across any or all areas?
Anything else you’d like people to know?
This program is for women who take an active role in their health and want to feel empowered and in control of their wellbeing. Some women are still working on that sense of empowerment, and that’s okay—but this group is designed to foster and support it. It’s also a safe space where women can share what’s worked—or hasn’t worked—for them. We can learn so much from each other’s experiences.
Limited spots left—sign up today
The 6-Week Women’s Wellness Program starts next week, and places are nearly full. If you’re ready to invest in your health and wellbeing in a safe, supportive environment, don’t wait.
Register below and take the time for yourself—you’re worth it.