A DAY TO CONNECT, ENGAGE AND THRIVE TOGETHER

EMPOWERING WELLNESS EXPO

September 26, 2026

10AM – 4PM

The Connection Event Space

30 Shoreline Drive, Rhodes NSW 2138

Free Entry

EVENT RECAP

Thank you for an incredible Expo

Our Empowering Wellness Expo brought the community together for a day of inspiring talks, fitness, magic, meditation and a market full of local makers.

We are so grateful to every speaker who shared their story, every vendor and sponsor who showed up for our community, every volunteer who gave their time, and everyone who came along ready to connect, engage, thrive and learn.

This day wouldn't have been possible without you — thank you for being part of it.

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Live Entertainment

Magic with David Ung. Indian classical dance and Ving Tsun Martial Arts performance.

Wellness Market

Self-care essentials, candles, bakes, crystals, tarot & psychic readings.

Inspiring Talks

Sharon Draper, Raymond Lo, Jess Wray and Dean De Jesus.

Relax & Unwind

Fun workout and Pilates sessions.

Kids & Family

Kids zone, older people's zone, games & lantern-making workshop.

Community & Connection

Official welcome by
City of Canada Bay
Mayor Michael Megna,
City of Canada Bay stalls,
mindfulness facilitator,
Psychologist, Counsellor,
and Physiotherapist.

Lucky Door Draw & Raffle Draw

Enter our lucky draw to win exciting prizes.

INSPIRING TALKS

Meet our speakers

Four honest, practical talks from people in our own community — on burnout, movement, purpose and healing.

Psychologist

Physiotherapist

CEO of Daggie Dog

Exercise Physiologist

WHAT'S ON

Program schedule

A full day of talks, activities and entertainment.
Program details are subject to change without notice.

9:45 AM

CHECK-IN ZONE

Registration

10:00 AM

CHECK-IN ZONE

Doors Open

The first 50 attendees will receive a free gift.

Explore the wellness market while you wait for the opening ceremony.

10:00 AM

KIDS ZONE

Kids Game

Collect stamps at different games to trade for a prize.

10:00 AM

OLDER PEOPLE ZONE

Older Persons' Wellness Zone

Fun and games for the young at heart, 55+

10:00 AM

KIDS ZONE

Lantern Making Workshop

Mid-Autumn Festival: Chinese Lantern Making Workshop for All Ages

10:25 AM

STAGE ZONE

Welcome — Host Diane

Our EmpowHER Committee Secretary kicks off the day.

10:30 AM

STAGE ZONE

Opening Ceremony

With EmpowHER Sydney and special guests, including Mayor Michael Megna, City of Canada Bay, and Stephanie Di Pasqua MP, State Member for Drummoyne.

10:40 AM

STAGE ZONE

David Ung — Magician Opening Act

Our special guest magician opens the stage program.

11:00 AM

FITNESS ZONE

Pilates with Barre Junction

A gentle guided taster session.

11:00 AM

KIDS ZONE

Canada Bay Library Storytime

Storytelling session for little ones.

11:00 AM

LUCKY DRAW

Lucky Draw

First lucky draw of the day — must be present to win.

11:30 AM

STAGE ZONE

Jess — "Balance and Fitness"

Strive Motion on building everyday strength and stability.

12:00 PM

STAGE ZONE

Raymond Lo — "Ergonomics for Home Office Setup"

Physiotherapist Raymond Lo on setting up a healthier home workspace.

12:00 PM

KIDS ZONE

Canada Bay Library Storytime

Storytelling session for little ones.

12:30 PM

FITNESS ZONE

Indian Classical Dance - Nritya Dhrupadi Music and Research Centre

A live cultural performance on the main stage.

1:00 PM

STAGE ZONE

Dean De Jesus — "How My Dog Saved My Life"

Dean De Jesus, CEO of Daggie Dog, on his journey back to balance.

1:15 PM

STAGE ZONE

Raymond Lo — "Father & Daughter Journey"

Love, Loss, Connection, Strength. A personal talk on fatherhood and wellbeing.

1:30 PM

STAGE ZONE

Sharon Draper — "Breaking Burnout"

Practical strategies from a Psychologist for recognising and recovering from burnout.

1:00 PM

LUCKY DRAW

Lucky Draw

Second lucky draw of the day — must be present to win.

1:00 PM

COMMUNITY ZONE

Burwood Police Command Area

Connect directly with your local police. Ask questions, discuss neighborhood concerns, and grab helpful safety resources

2:00 PM

FITNESS ZONE

Fun Fitness for All Ages

A high-energy group session, no experience needed.

2:15 PM

STAGE ZONE

Yang Ving Tsun Demonstration

A live Wing Chun martial arts demonstration from Yang Ving Tsun Academy.

2:30 PM

KIDS ZONE

Canada Bay Library Storytime

Storytelling session for little ones.

2:30 PM

STAGE ZONE

Meditation — The Art of Living

A guided meditation session to wind down the afternoon.

3:00 PM

LUCKY DRAW

Lucky Draw

Third and final lucky draw of the day — must be present to win.

3:30 PM

RAFFLE

Raffle Ticket Draw

Raffle winners announced — proceeds go back to EmpowHER Sydney.

4:00 PM

STAGE ZONE

Closing

Thank you for coming. See you next year.

WELLNESS MARKET

Meet our vendors & stallholders

Browse the wellness market by what you're after.

Bloom Naturals

Handmade natural skincare, essential oil beauty products, natural soaps, baby products, organic matcha, antimicrobial socks.

EmpowHER Sydney Inc

Handmade Gift of Love.

Info desk

Soul Earth Therapies

Psychic Medium Vincenza will be doing 20min Psychic reading giving you guidance about what's ahead for you. Also available on the day will be our AromaBlend Collection, blended & blessed with intention.

StellarLuna

Tarot & Numerology readings with ethically sourced crystals, inspiring clarity, connection and self-discovery.

Yumi Candle

Yumi Candle creates handcrafted floral candles and signature beeswax flower domes, bringing artistry, warmth and beauty to gifting and everyday moments.

Fort Healthcare

Fort Healthcare has cared for Sydney families since 2013. Five clinics, 50+ therapists, multilingual allied health across every generation.

Mikayla Vibes

The little girl's journey fighting cancer

Strive Motion

Strive motion runs affordable exercise classes for over 55yrs olds (main focus falls prevention, stedistrong) to foster active ageing and social connection.

Team Di

Team and personal training for all abilities.Team Di classes are fun and suitable for every body!

The Conscious Project

Sharon Draper is a trauma-informed psychologist with 17 years of experience helping people understand why they think, feel and respond the way they do. She is passionate about helping people move beyond survival mode, reconnect with themselves and create lives that feel more authentic, balanced and meaningful.

Wonderlab

Wonderlab turns wellbeing into everyday life skills, helping people, families and workplaces build the capacity to thrive.

Yang Ving Tsun Academy

Ving Tsun Kung Fu is an art form, a philosophy and lifestyle. It teaches self defense, mind and body control, wellbeing.

David Ung Magician

Meet our special guest entertainer at his stall between performances for a closer look at his craft.

Nritya Dhrupadi Music And Dance Research Centre

The classical dance form is called “Kathak”, and it means storytelling. We depict stories through our dance forms

Yang Ving Tsun Academy

Ving Tsun Kung Fu is an art form, a philosophy and lifestyle. It teaches self defense, mind and body control, wellbeing.

Barre Junction

Barre Junction was born from love of movement to support manly women to feel amazing about themselves, is now evolved into a brand not just looking at the movement but also the basic nutrition - hydration.

Fit Foodtopia

Creating better ingredients, better bites, and better you.

Fresh artisan gluten free bake goods All generations

Sapoi & Co

Handcrafted Australian Sticky Chai made with real spices, botanicals and date syrup, creating delicious daily rituals for wellbeing and meaningful connection.

WIN A PRIZE,
SUPPORT A CAUSE

Lucky door draw

Lucky draw on the day — must be present to win.

1st Draw

Maccas Gift Coupon Value $40

2nd Draw

Japanese Premium Organic Matcha Powder Value $65

3rd Draw

Yang Ving Tsun Martial Arts 1 Month Pass Value $150

Raffle prizes

Pre-sale 20/9/26-25/9/26 4pm: Cafe Botanica Rhodes Raffle Ticket $5 each or $10 for 3 tickets.

On the Day: Raffle tickets cost $5 each or $10 for 3 tickets. Tickets available for purchase on the day.

All proceeds from raffle ticket sales go straight back to EmpowHER Sydney, helping us continue supporting our community.

1st Prize

Beeswax Flower Dome Value $250

2nd Prize

Maccas Hamper Value $200

3rd Prize

Bloom Naturals Gift Set Value $190

4th Prize

45mins Tarot Card Reading

Value $128

5th Prize

Lilly's Espresso and Cucina Dinning Voucher Value $100

Sponsored by: Lilly's Espresso and Cucina

6th Prize

Organic Matcha Set Value $100

7th Prize

Daggie Dog Treats Gift Voucher Value $100

8th Prize

Antimicobial High Function Socks Set Value $88

9th Prize

Organic Veggie Basket Value $75

10th Prize

Natural Essential Oil Set Value $65

11th Prize

Maccas Rhodes Food Voucher Value $40

12th Prize

Artistry Single Origin Coffee Beans Value $38

Sponsored by: Artistry Craft Coffee & Co

13th Prize

Sip Hour Cafe Voucher Value $30

14th Prize

Lilly's Espresso and Cucina Dinning Voucher Value $25

Sponsored by: Lilly's Espresso and Cucina

15th - 16th Prize

Maccas Rhodes Food Voucher Value $20

WHY COME ALONG

CONNECT

Meet local services & build community

ENGAGE

Fun activities for all ages

THRIVE

Support your mind, body & wellbeing

LEARN

Inspiring talks & wellness workshops

GOOD TO KNOW

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register in advance?

Entry is free — tap Register Now.

Is the venue accessible?

The Connection Event Space is wheelchair accessible, with accessible restrooms on-site. There are two accessible street parking spots directly outside The Connection on Shoreline Drive. Street access to the venue is flat and step-free.

How do I get there without driving?

Rhodes Station is a few minutes' walk on Walker Street, and buses 410, 458, 533 and 526 all service the area. Walking or cycling in via the Homebush Bay Circuit and Bennelong Bridge is another easy option.

Is there parking on-site?

Timed street parking (2–4 hours) runs along Shoreline Drive right by the venue. Rhodes Central Shopping Centre on Marquet Street or Rhodes Waterside Shopping Centre on Rider Boulevard also offer three hours free parking.

Do I have to be there for Lucky Door Prize Draw?

Yes. Please refer to our program for our lucky door prize draw.

What is the purpose of this raffle?

All proceeds from ticket sales directly support EmpowHER Sydney Inc. and its ongoing community programs, which focus on supporting women, families, and local wellness initiatives.

Where can I buy raffle tickets during the pre-sale?

Pre-sale tickets are available at Café Botanica Rhodes from 20–25 September 2026 4pm. Additional tickets will also be sold at the Empowering Wellness Expo on Saturday, 26 September 2026 (subject to availability).

*Cafe Botanica opening hours Sun 9am-5pm, Wed-Fri 10am-9:30pm.

How much do raffle tickets cost?

Tickets are priced at $5 for 1 ticket or $10 for 3 tickets.

Who can buy raffle tickets?

The raffle is open to NSW residents aged 18 years or older.

When and where will the raffle draw take place?

The draw will take place on Saturday, 26 September 2026 3:30pm, during the Empowering Wellness Expo at The Connection, 30 Shoreline Drive, Rhodes.

Do I need to be present at the raffle draw to win?

No. Attendance at the Empowering Wellness Expo is not required to win.

How will I know if I’ve won?

Winners will be announced at the event where practicable and will be contacted directly via the SMS or email provided on their ticket stub within 3 business days.

What do I need to claim my prize?

Winners may be required to present a valid photo ID and their matching winning ticket stub to claim their prize.

Can I exchange my prize for cash?

No. Prizes are non-transferable, non-exchangeable, and cannot be redeemed for cash, unless required by law.

What happens if a prize is unclaimed?

If a prize remains unclaimed after reasonable contact attempts, it will be handled in accordance with applicable NSW regulatory standards.

How is my personal information used?

Personal details collected on ticket stubs are used solely to administer the raffle, notify winners, and meet legal record-keeping obligations. Your information will not be used for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.