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YWCA Encore Exercise Program
An exercise program specially designed for women who have experienced breast cancer. Helping you restore mobility, flexibility and confidence through gentle pool and floor exercise. Encore is free and available in rural and metropolitan locations across Australia.What is Encore?
The YWCA Encore program is a free gentle exercise program for women of any age, who have had breast cancer surgery at any time in their lives. It is provided in a supportive, non-medical environment. It is funded by NSW Health and supported by AVON.
As well as helping women improve movement, rebuild flexibility and strength after surgery, Encore provides each participant with the opportunity to share common experiences and concerns with other women who understand.
What does the Encore program involve?
Encore runs over eight weeks, either days or evenings, with women attending for two hours per week.
The program includes gentle floor and hydrotherapy pool-based exercises. The exercises are designed to improve movement, flexibility and strength. All sessions allow time for relaxation, for information sharing and discussion, as well as informal talk -usually over light refreshments.
Women are encouraged to work at their own speed, and to their own ability, and there is no pressure to keep up with others. Participants do not have to be able to swim, and all pools are at a comfortable temperature.
The Encore program is designed for women who have had breast surgery at any time in their lives, not only those recovering from recent surgery. Everyone is welcome.
Who runs Encore?
Encore is a National program of The YWCA of Australia. A National Encore advisory committee has been established and a National Encore coordinator appointed to ensure that all Encore programs adhere to best practice standards and the exercises are safe and beneficial. The YWCA of Australia are also responsible for training Encore coordinators who then implement Encore through their local YWCA associations and branches.
NSW ENCORE PROJECT Funded by NSW Health and supported by Avon.
The YWCA of Sydney is now operating NSW ENCORE programs in:
Sydney Metro
CBD – Caterina Giuliano 02 9386 1335
French’s Forest – Caterina Giuliano 02 9386 1335
Kirrawee – Sonya Thompson 02 9531 4197
Lewisham – Vivienne Jarratt 0416 257 085
Macarthur – Pauline Watson 02 4657 1077
Parramatta – Yasmin George 02 9896 1975
Blue Mountains
Penrith/Katoomba – Penrith W Health 02 4721 8749
NSW Regional
Albury Wodonga - Sigrid Brown 02 6025 3046
Armidale - Vivienne Gregg 02 6772 7931
Bathurst - Ann Clydsdale 02 6332 5217
Broken Hill - Stacey Evers 08 8088 2026
Coffs Harbour - Jenny Baker 02 6651 4152
Cooma - Dale Whitfield 02 6456 2027
Dubbo - Narelle Brookfield 02 6884 3482
Goulburn - Narelle Shinfield 02 4827 3913
Grafton/Maclean - Joan Hargans 02 6644 6135
Lismore & North Coast - Sue Lloyd 02 6624 5985
Lithgow - BINC 02 6332 4866
Kempsey - Isobel Bradshaw 02 6562 4919
Newcastle & Maitland - Deirdre Balcombe 02 4929 2954
Nowra - Donna Brown 02 4447 3865
Orange - Donna Bennett 02 6366 8176
Parkes - Dianne Egan 02 6869 9619
Port Macquarie - Jane Newman 02 6588 2817
Tamworth - Ros Elliot 02 6760 9462
Taree - Elizabeth Bowen 02 6592 9422
Ulladulla - Janet Holland 02 4454 0244
Wagga - Marg Vonarx 02 6925 4258
Woy Woy - Judi Gurzinski 02 4358 0367
Wyong - Linda Nash 02 4333 6239
General NSW enquiries - Caterina Giuliano 9285 6264
YWCA NSW - (02) 9285 6264
Methodology
Each Encore program is run over an eight week period. Groups consist of between four and fifteen participants who meet once a week for approximately two hours to participate in the Encore floor and hydrotherapy pool exercises, relaxation and information sessions. Each weeks exercises are complemented with a home exercise sheet which is easy to follow and provides the basis for an ongoing personal home exercise schedule.
How much does Encore cost?
Thanks to NSW Health Funding and AVON's support, the ENCORE program is free.
Enrolment in Encore
Participation in the Encore program is by enrolment only and medical consent is required. In order to enrol, select your closest location and call your local coordinator who will give you more details - times, dates etc as well as sending you enrolment forms.
For more information, please phone 1800 305 150 or visit their website at http://www.ywcaencore.org.au/index.php