Experiential. Delivered Differently.
KICKS Empowerment Workshops
Short, experiential workshops that build confidence, resilience and readiness for work. Built on experience, not discussion. Empowerment workshops are not a clinical service.
Experience, not discussion
Participants in employment services have often had countless conversations with employment providers, counsellors and case managers. More discussion rarely creates change. What creates change is being placed in a structured experience: something physical, real and active, where growth happens naturally and there’s no room for avoidance.
The program doesn’t give participants excuses. It puts them in a growth environment where they can only move forward.
The Scale of the Challenge
The participants you support are carrying more than barriers to work
Mental health is the barrier beneath the barrier. The numbers make the case for addressing it directly.
Women
1 in 2
experience continued mental health issues
52%
experience depression in day-to-day life
Youth
2 in 3
experience continued mental health issues
402
young Australians lost to suicide in 2024
Men
71%
experience high stress in day-to-day life
6 men
are lost to suicide every day
How the program works
Stage One
Arrival & engagement
Participants step into a structured, physical environment. Through authentic expression, laughter and human connection, they begin to drop their guard and engage.
Stage Two
Growth & transformation
Building on the first stage, participants are placed in a growth comfort zone where the shift happens: a changed mental picture of who they are and what they can do.
Empowerment workshop results, 2025
94%
Satisfaction rate
93%
Completion rate
88%
Attendance rate
89%
Provider re-bookings
Participation and satisfaction measures, not clinical outcomes. How we measure.
The transformation arc
On Arrival
Shy, timid, lacking confidence, with a diminished mental picture of what they’re capable of. Even simple things feel out of reach.
On Departure
Boosted self-perception, increased self-belief, and a changed mental picture of who they are and what they can do, in a remarkably short time.
What participants walk away with
What participants report after the workshop, through pre and post self-rated surveys. These are participant-reported changes, not clinical outcomes. For clinician-led therapeutic support, see KICKS Clinical Pathways.
Wellbeing
Greater emotional awareness, more confidence handling stress, and greater self-esteem in social situations.
Personal development
Increased resilience, sharper communication, clearer goal-setting, stronger problem-solving, and a renewed sense of motivation and purpose.
Social participation
Stronger peer connections, healthier boundaries, and renewed confidence to engage with services, education, or employment opportunities.
Safety & self-management
Greater situational awareness, practical safety knowledge, and the confidence to manage conflict and challenging situations through de-escalation.
What Providers Say
Trusted by the providers you work alongside
“Partnering with KICKS Group as part of our women’s empowerment initiative was one of the best decisions we made. They created a space where real transformation could happen: warm, skilled, and deeply empowering. They met every woman where she was and brought out something remarkable in each of them.”
Natalie W & Hannah K, Local Jobs Program, Sydney Southwest
“It’s been great working alongside KICKS as they do such a wonderful job supporting our participants to work through non-vocational barriers of employment. Their approach is practical and supportive, which creates real momentum toward work goals.”
Daniel O, WISE Employment
“It’s important to facilitate programs that add value for customers, and the Empowered program is one of them.”
Jodie R, APM Business Manager
In Their Own Words
What participants say
“Thanks to this program, I feel empowered and confident to go back into work!”
Victoria K, Program Participant
“I learned physical safety, environmental awareness and self-empowerment methods that give me better confidence.”
Corrinne E, Program Participant
“I am confident enough in my abilities to complete a job. This program enhanced my confidence and built my abilities.”
Jaryie W, Program Participant
Real People. Real Change.
Real change. A lasting shift.
Post-program support
The program doesn’t end when the room empties. Participants gain access to a network of ongoing support designed to keep momentum going.
1800-4-KICKS Support Line
A direct line to the KICKS team. Not a crisis service: in an emergency call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Community & WhatsApp groups
Ongoing connection with people who get it.
Webinars & workshops
Optional Mindset Boosters and quarterly sessions.
Plus lifetime membership to KICKS Martial Arts and the Protect What’s Yours online learning university.
Tailored to every cohort you serve
Empowerment workshops are typically delivered over 8 to 12 hours, with structure, facilitation and reporting tailored to participant need and cohort. The funding category is confirmed with the commissioning provider for each workshop. Clinician-led support is offered separately through KICKS Clinical Pathways.
