A groundbreaking initiative, Women’s Awareness in Reproductive ‘Aafiya (WARDA), is a Western Sydney University program, supported by NSW Government through its Investing in Women program, which focuses on empowering Muslim women through a peer-mentored, co-designed model that facilitates access to vital healthcare information.  

A dynamic discussion during a workshop.

WARDA has already made considerable progress by organising six co-design workshops in February 2025, which have engaged more than 60 Muslim women from various communities and healthcare professionals.

These workshops were spread out over Minto, Lakemba, St Marys, Newcastle and Auburn. Two more workshops are currently in the works, further expanding outreach. For those unable to attend due to other commitments, interviews and online surveys will be conducted, to ensure their voices are heard and included in the process. 

These workshops are crucial for co-creating culturally sensitive health content that aligns with the community’s needs. They aim to engage diverse demographics within the Muslim women’s community, including those who immigrated as adults, those raised in Australia, women of different marital statuses, those with varied reproductive health experiences, and women from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The researchers recognise and respect that Muslim women are not a homogeneous group, but rather a diverse and complex community with differing values and perspectives shaped by their unique backgrounds and experiences. 

This program is garnering interest from the community. 

Sujana, a public servant and a mother of three from Sydney’s South West, expressed:

“This initiative has so much potential to benefit the community Insha Allah. The collaborative nature of the workshops ensure that in every step of the way our community is consulted and tailor-made programs are created to tackle specific needs within the community.”

Preparing for one of the workshops to begin!

Sadia Rahman, a physiotherapist from Sydney, commented:

“As a Muslim woman, I believe a reproductive health project is vital as the current health model often overlooks cultural and religious factors. Providing resources and support for both the community and health professionals would empower Muslim women to make informed choices and improve their well-being.”

Participants enjoy a meal together after every workshop.

A Muslim woman in her 30s from Western Sydney, who participated in one of the co-design workshops, shared that WARDA is “a much-needed initiative in our community.” Many other women who have attended the workshops or received information about the project echo this sentiment. Several have expressed a desire for events like the co-design workshops to be held regularly, one to two times a year. 

WARDA is fostering a community-wide dialogue on reproductive health in spaces familiar to Muslim women. With guidance from Muslim leaders and health professionals, the program is making strides in promoting a more inclusive, informed approach to reproductive health.

Through co-design workshops, WARDA aims to empower participants, strengthen social connectedness, and work on providing culturally sensitive resources in the next phase.