Kate and Nicolette empower thousands with We Are W/M

When Kate and Nicolette joined APM’s Self-Employment Assistance program, they had a clear vision to empower young people with evidence-based, trauma-informed health education.

What they needed was support to turn their passion into a sustainable organisation.

With help from APM’s Self-Employment Assistance program, Kate and Nicolette have built a thriving not-for-profit business - We Are W/M - that has reached more than 20,000 young people across Western Australia.

APM Consultant Marisa (pictured with the pair below) worked closely with them for a year, helping them refine their business plan, strengthen financial and operational processes, and connect with valuable networks. 

“The mentoring was a game-changer,” they recall. 

“The more perspectives we had, the stronger our foundation became, and ultimately, we built the business by learning from those who had been there before us.”

The journey wasn’t without challenges. 

Kate and Nicolette faced pushback from schools hesitant to engage with girls’ sexual health education. They also encountered gender bias. 

Despite 12 years of combined experience, they were repeatedly asked to prove their qualifications.

Juggling part-time jobs only added to the strain, but they’ve since learned to delegate tasks and take deliberate breaks from the laptop to avoid burnout.

Today, We Are W/M is established as a not-for-profit organisation that has reached thousands of students, creating safe spaces to explore consent, relationships, and online media. 

Many schools have become passionate supporters of their work. 

Their impact is being recognised at a state level, with Kate recently named a finalist for the 2025 Young West Australian of the Year Award.

Looking ahead, Kate and Nicolette see themselves securing a dynamic office space, designed for collaboration and ready for their growing team, as they aim to broaden their impact and deliver vital education on a larger scale.

• Learn more at We Are W/M and follow the business on Instagram.