At Sisterup, exercise is about more than physical strength. It is helping young women with disability build confidence, try something new, connect with others and discover what they are capable of.
Sisterup is a Perth-based social program founded in 2023 that supports young women with disability through fitness, mentoring and social connection.
The program aims to build friendships, confidence and capability through activities centred around four pillars: health, relationships, community and learning.
Its five-hour Step Up Day program combines fitness, social connection and gratitude check-ins with learning activities and practical skills, including shopping for and preparing a healthy lunch together.
Sisterup also runs afternoon fitness classes for adolescents and adults, providing participants with another opportunity to stay active, socialise and build confidence.
For 21-year-old Holly Picknoll, who has been part of Sisterup since she was 18, the sessions have become a place to be supported through exercise and connect with friends.
“Doing these exercise sessions has really improved my confidence,” Holly said.
She said spending time with mentors and other participants has helped her feel more comfortable, while the exercise sessions have taught her more about how to move her body.
For Sisterup coach Hannah McKeown, those changes are exactly what makes physical activity such an important part of the program.
“I think exercise is such an important part of Sisterup because it allows each participant to become active and engage with all the other participants, build a sense of community, help them reach their own goals and challenge themselves,” she said.
Hannah, who began as a mentor when Sisterup started in October 2023, has watched participants become more willing to challenge themselves and trust in their abilities.
But the sessions are not about everyone doing the same exercise in the same way.
Hannah said activities can be modified to suit different abilities, allowing participants to work at a pace that is comfortable for them while still challenging themselves.
A participant at Sisterup for four months, Eva Brumley said the slower pace has helped her to settle in.
“I’ve noticed that I’ve been getting a little bit stronger every single time,” she said.
But the changes Eva has noticed extend beyond the physical.
“I’ve definitely been more outgoing. I’ve been talking to a lot more people and I have been a lot happier,” she said.
Those connections are part of what keeps Eva coming back. She said the sessions gave her a chance to exercise, socialise and spend time with the group.
For mentor Helene Pagano, those relationships are one of the most valuable parts of the program.
“I feel like it’s an environment that allows the girls to be adventurous and try what they want to try. It gives them that room to breathe and make mistakes without judgment,” Helene said.
That support can make the difference when participants are faced with something unfamiliar.
Hannah recalls seeing participants hesitate before trying new exercises, particularly when using gym machines. With encouragement from coaches, mentors and other participants, that hesitation can turn into an achievement.
“Nine times out of ten they end up surprising themselves with what they actually can do it,” Hannah said.
For Holly, that sense of connection is just as important as the exercise itself. She describes the people around her as “friendly, kind and respectful” and says spending time with mentors and friends is one of the things she enjoys most about the sessions.
Hannah sees that sense of belonging grow alongside participants’ confidence.
“It’s about building their confidence, supporting one another and seeing everybody come together as a community to lift each other up,” Hannah said.
For Helene, the impact of that confidence can be seen long after the exercise session finishes.
She remembers one participant who initially struggled to speak in the group and was hesitant to make connections. Over time, Helene watched her become more confident speaking within the group and interacting with others.
It is a change Helene describes as extending beyond physical activity.
“It brightens their day when they come, and it’s really fun getting to see how different they are when they first begin to the end.”
“It’s confidence, that feeling of being able to show up for themselves, because we do it for them and with them,” she said.
At Sisterup, movement is only the starting point.
The real measure of strength may be found in what happens afterwards: a new friendship, a willingness to try something unfamiliar or the confidence to speak up.
It is about discovering what they can do.
Ava Tavolaro
Ava Tavolaro - a journalism and broadcast media student with a passion for sports media.
