ALL-round health initiative Daughters of the West will soon arrive in Ballarat.

Victorian Health Minister Jill Hennessy has injected $60,000 into Western Bulldogs’ community programs to deliver the club-led women’s health program into Ballarat, Melton, Maribyrnong and Wyndham.

The program will build on the successfully growing Sons of the West, which supports men in the western suburbs and across western Victoria to lead healthier and social lives.

Western Bulldogs have run the program for men in Wendouree and Sebastopol the past two years and expanded into Smythesdale and Maryborough for this year’s premiership season.

Daughters of the West, like the men’s equivalent, will partner with local organisations. The program is designed by local women. Sessions start with a heath workshop before a work-outs suited to participants’ fitness levels.

Ms Hennessy announced the program expansion in a Western Bulldogs Community Foundation dinner Thursday night.

“The Daughters of the West will give local women the support and tools they need to live better, eat better and get back into the game of life,” Ms Hennessy said.

Western Bulldogs’ grew their Bulldogs Read children’s literacy program from 50 pupils to 75 in Ballarat this year, with players helping to build confidence. The club also expanded Leadership Project for emerging youth leaders from Ballarat into Ararat and Stawell.

Bulldogs Ballarat engagement manager Brett Goodes said the club had also been working to genuinely get involved in city festivals like Begonia and Springfest. Mr Goodes said the club felt really intertwined with the community.