whw news

whw news Edition 2 • 2012

women’s health west – equity and justice for women in the west

A word from the ceo Dr Robyn Gregory

Welcome to the second edition of WHW news for 2012. This

edition focuses on our priority area of mental wellbeing and social connectedness – named to emphasise just how

important social connections are to our mental health and wellbeing.

In the introduction, the newest member of our health promotion team, Stephanie Rich, outlines the intricate relationship between mental health and wellbeing and life circumstances in determining our overall health – and the factors that can undermine this for women, such as violence, isolation and poverty.

Improving safety and strengthening the health and emotional wellbeing of new mothers by building social support to reduce isolation is a very practical response. On page 15, Angela Taft from La Trobe University outlines the findings of a research study undertaken in collaboration with partners including WHW to do just that.

On page 4, board director Cath Bateman gives an inspiring description of her recent international conference attendance, where she picked up the importance of a framework for economic development based on gender equality, sustainable development and human rights. This experience should prove vital to WHW over the next few months as we struggle to cope with recent funding cuts in the state budget, outlined by Elly Taylor on pages 10-11.

These cuts threaten to undermine regional gains made in areas such as prevention of violence against women, financial literacy with newly-arrived communities, and whole-school

sexual and reproductive health programs designed to reduce teen pregnancy and build respectful relationships. WHW will be in touch with our broader community in the coming months to gather ideas about how we can sell the importance of investment in prevention to secure the long term health of our community – and reduce the social and economic costs of violence, physical and mental ill health, and poverty-related disease.

One existing idea is outlined by Communications Coordinator, Nicola Harte, on page 14, in her run down of our planned international women’s day celebration for 2013 – 51% West. This theatrical event is designed to bring lived experiences to the demographics of women in the region for decision-makers.

In recognition of another international observance, on page 13 FARREP community worker, Intesar Homed, introduces the International Day of Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). WHW is committed to the elimination of FGM and the provision of culturally appropriate service responses to women already affected by the practice. Unfortunately this is one of the programs facing funding cuts as a result of the state budget.

Similarly, on page 6, family violence coordinators, Jelena and Michelle, point to the difficulties facing our family violence program following a real decrease in funds available for service delivery, coupled with increasing police referrals and demand for services, and significant population growth. The decrease is a result of the reduction in indexation for community services to only 2 per cent, despite a projected need for 3.58 per cent.

Jelena also provides a progress report on a terrific national initiative designed to keep

Continued p.2

inside:

How do the state and federal budgets affect your budget? p.10

Check out the new WHW website! p.17

Creative approaches to family violence

intervention p.6

Participants in the Our Community, Our Rights project.

Read more on page 12.

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whw news edition 2 • 2012 2

ISSN # 1834-7096

Editor: Nicola Harte

Newsletter Group: Lynda Memery, Jacky Tucker, Veronica Garcia, Nicola Harte

Contributors to this edition: Arsha, Angela Taft, Batsi, Cath Bateman, Colette , Debra Wannan, Elly Taylor, Emma Breheny, Erin Richardson, Intesar Homed, Jelena, Kirsten Campbell, Maria, Michelle, Mylinh, Nicola Harte, Robyn Gregory, Sally, Sally Camilleri, Shukria, Simone, Sophie, Stephanie, Stephanie Rich, Veronica Garcia

Photographers: Scout Kozakiewicz, Stephanie, Veronica Garcia

Illustrations: Isis & Pluto

Design and layout: Susan Miller, [email protected]

Editorial Policy: Contributions from readers are welcome. Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of Women’s Health West (WHW). All contributions are the responsibility of the individual authors. The final decision on inclusion lies with WHW and the editor. Content must be in keeping with WHW’s vision and goals. Short items are preferred. Email contributions to [email protected] and include your name, email address and phone number. WHW reserves the right to edit any contribution.

Read this edition and archives of WHW News online at www.whwest.org.au/pubs/WHWnews.php

Edition 2 published: July 2012 Deadline for edition 3: 24 August 2012

Continued from p.1

women and children safe and in their own home after family violence, on page 7. This program significantly reduces the cycle of homelessness and isolation that is associated with family violence, so we were pleased to see continued funds available in the recent federal budget.

Counselling is another aspect of keeping children safe after family violence and in this edition Sally and Stephanie, our children’s counsellors, continue their work with Ruby Roo to bring us the Ruby Files on pages 8-9, as well as outlining the terrific group they facilitated for children in Hoppers Crossing.

Kirsten Campbell and social work student, Eloina Zepeda, report on our advocacy program, Our Community, Our Rights, on page 12. Their evaluation highlights the importance of increasing women’s confidence and capacity to take action through building skills and knowledge of human rights. We look forward to the outcome of their projects.

While we are facing some tough decisions about where to cut services to women and children in our region, we thank those who have donated to WHW over the last three months; I’m sure you will agree that we continue to offer extraordinary services by committed staff and directors.

At Women’s Health West we work towards achieving equity and justice for women in our

western region. Our emphasis on equity and justice in relation to health stems from decades of evidence that health is significantly determined by the social, political, environmental and economic conditions in which we live. An equity and justice approach to health recognises the way that factors such as access to resources, freedom from violence and discrimination, and opportunities for civic participation determine the health of women and their opportunities to lead healthy, safe and fulfilling lives. As a feminist organisation, we focus on the gender inequities that shape women’s lives, as well as recognising the different impact of inequity on women who are, for instance, poor, marginalised or isolated.

Mental health and wellbeing is one of the key prerequisites for social, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing. It impacts on our ability to realise our potential, interact with others in respectful ways, cope with every day stresses and be an active part of our community. Factors that contribute to equity and social justice – such as access to resources, freedom from violence, pay equity and social participation, have a significant impact on our mental wellbeing. Importantly, social connectedness and inclusion – the supportive relationships we have with others, the levels of engagement and trust we have with people in our community, and the experiences of being an involved and valued part of our community as a whole – have also been recognised as significant social determinants of our mental health and wellbeing.

Our mental health is directly shaped by the social, cultural and political conditions in which we live. For instance, women’s continued oppression, undervalued social position, lack of economic resources, and experiences of violence and discrimination, determine their experiences of poor mental health and

their opportunities for optimal mental wellbeing. Social connectedness and inclusion is also experienced differently by women than men. Gender roles, economic barriers, participation in paid employment, and experiences of violence and discrimination, all impact on women’s opportunities to participate in their community, develop friendships and social networks, and access social support. Women are more likely to be carers, sole parents and take responsibility for child rearing, all of which impact on their opportunities for social connectedness. For women with a mental illness or a disability, the barriers to gaining social connections and support can be even greater.

WHW undertakes strategic work through our family violence and health promotion programs in order to reduce women’s experiences of violence, isolation and exclusion, and to improve women’s social connections and mental wellbeing. Our family violence services advocate for the safety of women and their children, and provide comprehensive direct services to support women to break the cycle of family violence. We also undertake strategic health promotion activities to redress the underlying causes of gender inequity, women’s barriers to participation, and violence against women. Our health promotion programs work to provide safe spaces for women to build upon their skills and knowledge, and maintain social connections with others.

While the principles to improve mental wellbeing and social connectedness that I’ve described are integrated into all of the work we do, articles in this edition that specifically outline our work in this area are identified with this stamp:

Stephanie Rich, Health Promotion Worker

Mental wellbeing & social connectedness

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edition 2 • 20123 whw news

Behind the scenes

Stephanie RichHEALTH PROMOTION WORKER

I’ve worked at Deakin University as a research assistant and tutor in health promotion, and at the Melbourne Institute of Business Technology as a lecturer in health research methods and data. At the Better Health Channel I was a content assistant; I was a community education officer at the Jean Hailes Foundation for Women’s Health and a project worker at Foundation House. I’ve also volunteered in health promotion in Australia and Cambodia, challenging violence against women. I have been an enthusiast and supporter of Women’s Health West for some time and am thrilled to be here and have the opportunity to learn from my colleagues.

Emma BrehenyADMINISTRATIVE SuPPORT - WESTERN FAMILy VIOLENCE REGIONAL INTEGRATION COORDINATOR

On the two days I’m not at Women’s Health West I do policy and advocacy work at Youthlaw, a specialist youth legal service. During my working life, I’ve had my share of highlights and lowlights – flipping burgers at the cricket in summer was a definite low point while one of my most exciting jobs was coordinating a photography exhibition on youth homelessness. My goals in this role involve furthering my knowledge of the family violence sector and supporting the service integration work that’s been underway for a few years.

ColetteFAMILy VIOLENCE OuTREACH WORKER

I’m still casually employed at my first social work job at the Women’s Domestic Violence Crisis Service. I enjoy working with people, so I’ve done lots of customer service in restaurants, call centres and I was a carnie at the Melbourne show! During my social work placement at Women’s Health in the North I co-ordinated the Week Without Violence Clothesline Project highlighting violence against women and children in the community. Another placement at Foundation House involved working with refugees and asylum seekers who have experienced torture and trauma. I approach my work from a critical social work and community development framework that encompasses feminist, strengths based practice.

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MylinhFAMILy VIOLENCE REFuGE WORKER

My social work career began at a primary school running groups and programs for children. I also worked with children in residential units before moving into the mental health field. I have always been passionate about the prevention of violence against women and children so am very excited to be given the opportunity to learn and contribute to the amazing work that WHW does in this area. Outside of work, I also have a passion for monkeys and am proud to announce that I have just adopted my first orangutan, a cheeky little 2 year old named Rahayu!

ArshaFAMILy VIOLENCE OuTREACH WORKER

Once I finished my studies back home in India, I worked for a few years in the administrative department of an IT company. I started my welfare work at an Indian organisation in Dandenong and was a generalist worker at Molly’s House immediately before coming here.

In my present role I continue to assist women who have experienced family violence but it’s different from the kind of work I did in the refuge. I hope to gain more experience in all aspects of working with clients and interacting with colleagues while contributing my skills, cooperation and dedication.

Congratulations WHW congratulate Board Directors Leigh Russell and Peta Olive on the respective births of Imogen Kate and Sullivan Graeme Clarke.

We also congratulate former Victorian premier Joan Kirner who was awarded the highest Australian Honour - the Companion of the Order Of Australia, the AC, in the latest Queen’s Birthday Honours.


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The Association for Women’s Rights in Development (AWID) is an international feminist

membership organisation committed to achieving gender equality, sustainable development and women’s human rights. A dynamic network of women and men around the world, AWID members are researchers, academics, students, educators, activists, business people, policy-makers, development practitioners, funders and more.

Every three or so years, AWID hosts an international forum bringing together women’s rights grassroots advocates and leaders, donor agencies, development practitioners and activists from around the world with the common goal of advancing women’s rights. The International Forum on Women’s Rights in Development is the largest recurring event of its kind. The forum gives participants an opportunity to build alliances, celebrate and learn in a highly charged atmosphere that fosters deep discussions and sustained personal and professional growth. In April 2012, I was lucky enough to attend the 12th forum in Istanbul, Turkey with the focus of Transforming Economic Power to Advance Women’s Rights and Justice.

As a community development and health worker, economics was not something I considered ‘my cup of tea’ and my main reason for attending the forum was to deepen my understanding of other topics such as sexual and reproductive health rights, violence prevention and the use of arts in education and activism. On arrival however I was quickly swept up in the focus of the forum and attended breakout sessions on gender budgeting,

feminist monitoring and evaluation, and using politics to transform economics.

Despite working for two independent feminist organisations and serving on the board of another I attended the forum as a representative of my Australian feminist website, feminaust.org, and so was primarily concerned with learning and developing skills that would enhance my work on that level. Since leaving Turkey I have developed a number of plans to become more actively involved in the feminist economic process.

One of these is to provide space for young women to better understand how economic policy affects them in Australia, and explore ways they can get involved in developing a more positive, progressive and feminist process. Taking the time to read and understand the federal and state budget process, question decision-making and assumed wisdom, and leverage support for improved economic systems is something I never thought was within my power until now.

As a board director at WHW I am particularly interested in the insights I gained into how other organisations tackle the questions of remaining feminist in a competitive funding environment, and how to ensure our monitoring and evaluation remains inclusive and positive.

Finally, I met some incredible people including Elizabeth Reid, the first ever women’s advisor to an Australian Prime Minister (Gough Whitlam), Sarah Costa, Executive Director of the Women’s Refugee Commission, and Marilyn Waring, author of seminal feminist economic work, ‘Counting for Nothing / If Women Counted’ and Reserve Bank of New Zealand board director. These women were heroes and idols to us, but to them we were equals in passion and potential – an experience that once again taught me the value of young and aspiring voices, even on such an influential international level.

The lesson I took away was an old one that we need to be reminded of: feminism is a multi-faceted, multi-dimensional and fluid movement that expresses itself in a myriad of ways in a myriad of environments and communities, but with one basic goal – to invent and promote alternatives to gendered oppression and discrimination.

There is still a lot that I don’t understand about feminist economics and feminism in economics, but since Forum2012 I have been inspired to discover as much as I can so that I can contribute to the movement for economic and feminist change.

Cath Bateman, WHW Board DirectorAssociation for Women’s Rights in Development Forum

Cath teaching circus skills to a delegate from Latvia in the wellbeing section of the AWID international forum

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submissionsWomen’s Health West’s advocacy activities include communicating with government, community and service providers through committees, campaigns, submissions and letters. This new section summarises our most recent actions; full submissions can be found at www.whwest.org.au

Strategic review of health and medical researchElly Taylor, Health Promotion Coordinator

In January 2012 Women’s Health West (WHW) wrote a

submission in response to the strategic review of health and medical research in Australia. WHW is committed to influencing the way Australian health and medical research is conducted, given that well-considered research into women’s health can lead to prevention of poor health and disease, improved clinical care and better health outcomes for women in the community.

WHW advocated for a range of recommendations including the need for health and medical research to:

• Investigate the social and biomedical factors that influence a person’s health, wellbeing and safety

• Be strategically aligned with the health priorities outlined in the federal government’s National Women’s Health Policy 2010

• Better translate into policy, programs and services that work to prevent ill health and disease

National anti-racism partnership and strategySally Camilleri, Health Promotion Coordinator

In May 2012 WHW provided comment on the Australian

Government’s development of a National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy that will work to eradicate racism and strengthen social cohesion through a commitment to a diverse and inclusive community.

Our submission drew on women’s responses to our anti-racism action research project work. We recommended the strategy:

• Consider the broader determining factors that contribute to race-based discrimination

• Include actions in a broad range of settings including employment, education, housing, the media and service access

• Gain bipartisan support to ensure a long term commitment to the strategy

• Include a national campaign that informs the community about the effects of racism

• Strengthen criminal and civil processes of reporting

Most significantly WHW recommends the strategy should be cognisant of gender differences when considering the impact of racism and strategies to eradicate it.

VicHealth respectful relationships education toolkit Erin Richardson, Health Promotion Worker

WHW was successful in our submission to VicHealth

to develop a resources toolkit for use in secondary school settings. WHW will work with VicHealth to develop a range of practical tools and resources to support a ‘whole school approach’ to the delivery of respectful relationships education. Our approach is underpinned by our extensive experience in delivering best practice respectful relationships work through our Girls Talk – Guys Talk program, as well as our expertise in the primary prevention of violence against women. The toolkit will contain practical resources for use by schools and community organisations, and is designed to embed gender equity within the school setting. Consultations to inform the toolkit were held from 18-22 June. For more information contact Erin Richardson: [email protected]

Inquiry into sextingStephanie Rich, Health Promotion Worker

In June 2012 Women’s Health West wrote a

submission in response to the Law Reform Committee of the Parliament of Victoria’s inquiry into sexting. WHW is dedicated to advocating for women’s health, safety and wellbeing, and the laws and educational initiatives around sexting have significant implications for the safety and wellbeing of young women.

WHW advocated that the current legislation related to sexting and young people is inappropriate and ineffective. We recommended legislative reforms including changes to the Crimes Act 1985 (Vic) and the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic). WHW also strongly advocated the need for further education and awareness initiatives aimed at young people that acknowledge the gender-based power relations and gender norms that contribute to harmful sexting behaviour.

Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support ServicesSally Camilleri, Health Promotion Coordinator

Women’s Health West’s submission to the Victorian

government on the Psychiatric Disability Rehabilitation and Support Services (PDRSS) reform framework in June outlined ways to strengthen the framework. We recommended a gender sensitive approach to the specific needs of women and men, for example by collecting sex-disaggregated data and providing staff with gender-specific training. We also recommended the sector introduce the Common Risk Assessment Framework into their mental health support, to assess levels of family violence and ensure women’s safety is paramount.

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For further information or to read our submissions please visit www.whwest.org.au


Women’s Health West (WHW) is the family violence service provider responsible for responding to police

referrals, or L17 reports, across the western metropolitan region. We respond to referrals from eighteen separate police stations across three police divisions within seven local government areas. This includes the Brimbank, Wyndham, Keilor Downs and Werribee police family violence units set up to improve police responses to family violence incidents within their regions. WHW contact women who are referred by police and provide them with essential information and support to assist them through their current experience of violence.

The number of referrals from Victoria Police has more than doubled over the past two years. The WHW 24 Hour Crisis Response program provides this service with essential support from our intake service. Constant monitoring and triage of referrals is necessary to ensure workers are able to respond to women requiring essential information and supports. However, the increase in referrals has led to considerable difficulties in managing the volume, leading us to implement a demand management model that redeploys existing funding to resource the L17 response. This involves taking much-needed outreach positions and seconding them to the 24 hour crisis response program.

Given the funding crisis, WHW has had to be creative in meeting demand, while also providing a timely response to victims of family violence. Our 24hr crisis response program now consists of two crisis response workers, a coordinator, an after hours service and a weekend response team who respond to police L17 referrals. The impact of this shift in resources is that we have less staff available to work with women and their children after the immediate crisis. It is unclear what impact this might have on women’s ability to gain independence and remain safe in the longer term.

Population and family violence increase, funds stay the same

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one example of Victoria Police’s commitment to finding the best ways to respond to family violence

is their request that WHW participate in a six month pilot project in partnership with Werribee Police to

replace the current fax referral system with email or e-referrals. this pilot will also be trialled in the south east region and is the first of its kind within Victoria.

WHW attribute part of the huge increase in referrals to the Victoria Police commitment to provide appropriate responses to family violence incidents. When this improved police response is paired with population growth and campaigns informing victims of their rights, the numbers of women reporting will increase. It follows that the services who respond to these reports should be adequately resourced to meet this demand. Of course, it is also possible that violence against women and children is increasing as broader social, economic and political changes increase family stress directed towards those most vulnerable.

The western region is characterised by gentrification in the inner suburbs, entrenched disadvantage in the middle suburbs and significant population growth in the outer suburbs. The Public Health and Strategic Development Unit of the Department of Human Services forecasts Melton and Wyndham’s populations will double by 2021. This will result in an even higher demand for services as these disadvantaged and rapidly growing populations struggle to cope with scant infrastructure, low levels of employment and housing stress. At present, budgets are not keeping up with the need for increases in family violence services.

Michelle, Jelena, Family Violence Coordinators


Safe at Home is a national initiative designed to assist women

and children to remain safe in the family home by:

• Removing perpetrators of family violence from the home

• Providing specialist workers to assess the safety and support needs of women and children

• Making brokerage funds available to enhance security such as deadlocks, security doors and lighting and home alarms

In 2010 the Western Integrated Family Violence Partnership obtained funding to deliver the Safe at Home program in the western region of Melbourne. We asked a Safe at Home client, who was supported by Women’s Health West in conjunction with Sunshine police, how the program has affected her life.

Jelena, Family Violence Outreach Coordinator

Safe at Home: a progress report

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What kind of support did you receive to help you feel safe? ‘I was supported in every possible way.’

do you feel safe in your home? ‘Yes.’

How are things different since you received Safe At Home assistance? ‘I can live life again. I can go out knowing he won’t be inside. I can go to sleep at night. My [child] can go outside and play. Everything is different.’

What are the benefits of staying at home? ‘Every time…settle and rebuild our lives, he would turn up and the violence would start all over again.. Now he can’t.’

How has it affected your child? ‘[Child] is a lot more secure…feels free.’

Has your view of the future changed? ‘[It’s changed] a lot. The security of knowing even if he does come he can’t get in. I can make plans for the future now.’

WHW used Safe at Home funds to assist this client to make her home more secure by changing her locks. We worked collaboratively with the police to undertake a safety audit of her home to identify further safety concerns. As a result of WHW Safe at Home advocacy and partnerships, she received several other security upgrades including shutters and security doors which were funded jointly by WHW and other agencies.


Ruby and the Easter EggThis year the Easter bunny asked for some assistance delivering eggs. I was a bit nervous as it was something I had not tried before but I took lots of deep breaths and got some help from the children’s counsellors, Steph and Sally, and I was able to do it! I accidentally dropped an egg and inside was a chicken. I was hoping for a native animal like a platypus or numbat. I enjoyed wearing the bunny ears and I especially liked eating lots of chocolate. I hope you all had a safe and chocolatey Easter.

Ruby discovers artistic talentsI came to the SPLASh group at Hoppers Crossing and felt a bit shy at the beginning but then I started painting with my friend. We had such fun. I was a little bit excited and I made a mess and got paint in my fur. I taught my friend how to do hoppy dot paintings. She was good at it and had lots of fun in the group. This group gave me lots of cuddles. It was my job to welcome kids who were a bit nervous.

Ruby learns to relaxAt one of the group sessions, I learnt to make felt. I was so exhausted with the playing and felt making that I needed to slow down and take a nap. Here I am snoozing with my friend Teddy who ran around so much that he fell asleep on the floor beside me.

Ruby Roo the Kangaroo, Stephanie and Sally, Children’s CounsellorsThe Ruby files

Thanks everyone for your feedback about my page in the newsletter, I am pleased that so many of my friends enjoy reading about my adventures. This is a photo of a very special friend who came to visit me in Footscray.

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Safe Place for Laughter, Art and Sharing

This term the children’s counsellors enjoyed running a group for children aged 6 to 9 years at Hoppers Crossing. We facilitated this group with the Royal Children’s Hospital Integrated Mental Health Program.

The group was very energetic and particularly enjoyed the art activities including a group banner, clay play, body outlines, felting,

a teddy bear making workshop and creating treasure chests. As this newsletter goes to print we are planning a party with chocolate ripple cake and games for the last week.

The children worked really hard, sharing their family violence experiences with one another. Talking about it with each other helps children know they are not alone and that they are able to survive difficult times. They discussed other things that trouble them like relating to others and that this is hard after family violence. We also talked about feelings of sadness and loss when families separate. This group was good at learning how to have fun, developing ways to understand and care about one another, and developing friendships. The facilitators were very proud of the children and the progress they have made during this weekly group.

Mothers also attended a few groups to gain insight into their children’s experiences. Many of the mothers told us how hard it is to set boundaries and manage emotions when they parent alone after family violence. We discussed the importance of boundary setting for children, especially with an understanding of children’s experience and their emotional needs to help create a greater sense of safety for children after family violence.

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Elly Taylor, Health Promotion Coordinator

The Victorian budget was described by the Baillieu government as the toughest state budget in

a decade. Cuts made to education and skills, community and women’s health, and social housing are expected to have a substantial impact on many women and children, and the services that support them.

One of biggest disappointments for the women’s health sector was the government’s decision to cut funds to integrated health promotion, including the community and women’s health, family planning and family and reproductive rights education programs (FARREP). These programs face cuts of between 5 and 13 per cent in 2012-2013, with decreases threatened in the following year as well. For most women’s health services this results in a 5 per cent cut to their total budget, compounding the decrease in indexation to community service funding. This will result in the loss of staff and services that work with some of Victoria’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.

While WHW and others in the sector strongly campaigned for an indexation rate of 3.58 per cent - with a minimum of 3 per cent to maintain current service capacity - the government has committed to funding only 2 per cent. Funding to

this program has not increased in 15 years, while the population has increased by up to 30 per cent.

The best available evidence indicates that, to achieve the enormous social, cultural, and attitudinal change required to effectively prevent ill health, primary prevention work must be long-term and sustained. And the most critical part of effective, sustainable prevention is in building the skills – and political will – of agencies within the sectors targeted to roll out prevention initiatives. This will not occur without dedicated funds available for those agencies to engage in prevention work.

There is a plethora of evidence indicating the economic benefit to government of investment in prevention approaches to health policy to reduce chronic illness and save on hospital and pharmaceutical expenditure (most recently Catholic Health Australia’s The cost of inaction on the social determinants of health). Yet health resources in Victoria remain very significantly weighted towards responding to ill health after it occurs.

It seems we have done too good a job convincing the electorate that health is measured in terms of waiting lists and hospital beds. As a result, prevention measures that require long term investment before changes in population health are seen are difficult to sell. But we have seen the benefit of the Quit campaign and reductions in the road toll – we know prevention works. It is the job of government to invest for the future and WHW looks forward to working with them to help sell that message.

WHW is also concerned about the:

• Absence of new investment in public transport services, particularly in Melbourne’s western growth corridors

How will the state & federal budgets affect yours?

The cost of inaction on the social determinants of health, Catholic Health Australia

A key finding of the report is potential savings of $2.3 billion a year on hospital costs and cuts to the number of chronic illness sufferers by up to 500,000 by tackling the social causes of poor health such as poverty.

The month of May saw the release of both the state and federal budgets. So what impact will these budgets have on women in the west?

• Significant cuts to TAFE and the impact of these on poor and disadvantaged communities in the west and the subsequent impact on jobs for people who would not otherwise receive tertiary education, e.g. newly-arrived refugees

• Car registration will increase by 16.6 per cent, which will again significantly impact on concession and low income earners

• The development of a new medium security prison in Melbourne’s western region forms part of a $690 million commitment for new prison capacity. This expansion of the Victorian prison system has been described as ineffective, expensive and is money that would be better spent on crime prevention programs, such as prevention of violence against women

There were a number of inclusions in the state budget that WHW would like to commend the state government on. These include:

• Confirmation that the state government will fund the Fair Work Australia equal pay case for 2012 and 2013

• Family violence regional leadership has been allocated $4.6 million

the impact will be cuts

to community sector jobs and

services that provide vital assistance to

Victoria’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities


in the form of funding to maintain the regional integration coordinator positions

• Sunshine Hospital, a key partner in WHW’s family and reproductive rights education program, has received $15 million toward expanding their maternity services

So what about the federal budget? The federal budget has a number of measures designed to make Australia a fairer and more equitable society, such as rolling back superannuation tax concessions for high income earners. The biggest measure announced in the federal budget was funding for set up costs to implement the national disability insurance scheme. The federal government has committed almost $1 billion over the next four years to the scheme, described as the most significant social policy reform since Medicare. Other positive changes and spending outlined in the federal budget that WHW welcomes include:

• The tax-free threshold will be more than tripled from $6,000 to $18,200 from 1 July 2012. This means an estimated 1 million low-income Australians will no longer be required to pay tax or lodge a tax return. This change will have a significant and positive impact on women who are more likely to work in casual and part-time employment.

• A new national dental scheme will receive $515.3 million to provide dental services for those who can least afford it.

• Commencing in March 2013, a new supplementary allowance

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Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights

Australian Council of Social Services

attended a hearing of the parliamentary Joint Committee on Human

Rights in Canberra on 21 June. this followed their

request for an inquiry by the committee on the

government’s legislation to take 100,000 sole parents

off Single Parenting Payments and put them

onto newstart Allowance when their child turns

eight, on the basis that the proposal is a violation of

human rights as defined by the core Un treaties. See www.acoss.org.au for more information on this bid to convince the government to

reverse the proposal.

there is nothing new in the federal budget to redress Australia’s affordable housing crisis

Changes to national

parenting payments will

see around 100,000 single

parents – the majority of

whom are single mothers – $60 a

week worse off

worth $1.1 billion will assist Australians who are unemployed, students and parents with young children by providing a yearly allowance of $210 for singles and $350 for couples.

Some of the disappointments associated with the federal budget include:

• Changes to parenting payments that will see around 100,000 single parents - the majority of whom are single mothers - $60 a week worse off when they are forced off their current payment onto the lower paying Newstart Allowance when their youngest child turns eight. The government’s cuts to parenting payments will reportedly save an estimated $700 million in the short term, but is likely to have significant long term costs.

• There is nothing new in the budget to redress Australia’s affordable housing crisis; no increase in Commonwealth rent assistance or additional funding for social housing. This leaves one in ten families who are in housing stress with no additional support.

In a political climate where both the state and federal government have committed to bringing their budgets to surplus, there has been limited spending on education, health and social services that support women and children. WHW will continue to advocate to government about the needs of women in the west, and work to ensure that women’s health, safety and wellbeing is on the political agenda. We will contact you in the coming months to request support and ideas for this work.


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ur Community, Our Rights – a project that delivers advocacy training within a human rights

framework to enable women to participate in civil society and to facilitate change – has completed seven weeks of workshops with South Sudanese women. Workshops have comprised a mix of human rights education, advocacy skills training and civic participation; including topics like racism and discrimination, navigating the health system, rights at work, safety, engaging with police (including a visit to the local police station) and using media in advocacy.

Women’s Health West have invested in a rigorous evaluation process to assess the effectiveness of the project as well as gathering recommendations from participants to make following workshops more effective.

The evaluation designed and conducted by Arthur Byabagambi and Eloina Zepeda has a strong qualitative focus using semi-structured interviews, participant observation, idea writing and the use of the ‘most significant change’ technique. This technique invites participants to share their experiences and identify the point at which change occurred for them. This creates space for participants to reflect and make sense of the complex changes happening around them, and allows the evaluators and project staff to develop a better understanding of what is happening for participants.

The seven women (see pictures) have clearly developed more confidence:

V: “To give me the confidence to change issues in this country through knowledge of how the law and our rights work, especially because I come from a country where people don’t have rights.”

G: “Personally for me it was hard before because I wasn’t educated but when I go to these sessions I learned more things about myself. I feel confident now that if there is an issue I know where I can go for help, before I didn’t know so I didn’t do anything.”

L: “After these sessions I think it’s okay. You know how to stand for yourself and you know how to help your sister. I am more confident now… You can help yourself but sometimes it’s very hard to help your sister, but at least we can show them the way.”

E: “It’s changed me a lot. I’m learning about human rights, I’m learning about my rights and what I can do. I’ve changed and it’s better, I am more confident in my life to do things for myself.”

The second stage of Our Community, Our Rights supports participants to plan and implement their own advocacy projects on a human rights issue important to their community. Participants are currently planning

two projects: the first is centred on preventing violence against women, including making a film with messages for the community about the importance of prevention, and an Acholi dance performance at Refugee Week 2012; the second is focussed on redressing critical health concerns for Sudanese women, like negotiating contraception within relationships and having regular pap smears.

Evaluation evidence so far indicates that Our Community, Our Rights has enabled significant increases in participants’ confidence, skills and understanding about human rights, advocacy and participation in society. By supporting women to apply these abilities to specific projects, and in everyday life, we hope that human rights in communities (particularly South Sudanese) will transform from being an abstract concept that sits outside people’s lives to one that is useful and significant for everyday life.

Watch this space for project reports from the participants themselves!

Kirsten Campbell (Health Promotion Worker) and Eloina Zepeda (Social Work Student)

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On 6 February 2003 the first lady of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs.) Stella Obasanjo, officially declared ‘Zero Tolerance of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)’ in Africa during a conference organised by the Inter-African committee on traditional practices affecting the health of women and children. Since then this day has been acknowledged around the world.

The International Day of Zero Tolerance of FGM is designed to raise awareness about this practice.

Any type of FGM has been recognised as a harmful practice and a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The World Health Organisation is committed to the elimination of FGM within a generation and is focusing on advocacy, research and guidance for health professionals and health systems.

To commemorate the ninth iteration of this day Women’s Health West (WHW) collaborated with Sunshine Hospital to organise a presentation on the 6 February 2012. WHW conducted professional development about the cultural and social aspects of FGM for affected women, and Sunshine Hospital delivered the clinical aspect. The activity was attended by 10 health professionals and the response was positive.

Workers and participants expressed interest in organising a bigger and greater event next year. WHW and hospital staff agreed to spend more time organising the event and to invite affected communities, other FARREP workers and more health professionals, to increase awareness of FGM and to promote its eradication.

WHW also collaborated with the Multicultural Centre for Women’s

Health and Women’s Health in the North to develop a fact sheet for health and community service providers. ‘The elimination of FGM: what works’ fact sheet outlines the approaches to FGM elimination that are known to be most successful. Globally, effective programs are those that are:

• Framed within a human rights agenda in the context of sexual and reproductive health

• Community-driven and owned

• Led by women

You can download this factsheet and more from our website at www.whwest.org.au/resources

International Day of Zero Tolerance

of Female Genital MutilationIntesar Homed, FARREP Community Worker

The Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) aims to prevent the occurrence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and increase the quality of care and access to sexual and reproductive health services for women from communities affected by FGM. This occurs through community education for women and professional development for service providers. For more information about FARREP at Women’s Health West, call 9689 9588 or visit http://whwest.org.au/health-promotion/sexual-health/farrep


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International Women’s Day is marked on 8 March every year and is a global celebration of the social, political, economic and personal achievements of women. It began in 1910 as a proposal that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day for women to press for their demands.

Years of rallies, struggle, agitation and feminist grist have brought us to 2012 and now we have the vote

and – in Australia – we have a female Prime Minister, Governor-General and Attorney-General. This is great! But women across the planet are still paid less than men for work of equal value; we are not present in equal numbers in business, politics or print; and globally, women continue to face appalling rates of violence, and their access to education and health is worse than that of men.

WHW have organised International Women’s Day events since 2000. These events have focused on a range of themes and population groups, and have been organised through collaboration and consultation with key local government, community and health organisations.

Given that women of the western region did not fare well in the 2012 state budget (see pages 10-11) and the west contains two of Melbourne’s four growth corridors but there is no extra money for infrastructure and public transport leaving women more isolated and with decreased access to

employment, along with corresponding increases in the rates of family violence… we wondered how we could more meaningfully introduce the women of the west to decision-makers?

So! We plan to create a theatrical event that brings the demographics of women in the western region to life; a sort of human pie chart with music. 51% West is a part-theatre, part-game celebration of international women’s day that introduces 51 women to each other and the audience through representations of the demographic composition of the women of the western region of Melbourne.

Rimini Protokoll, the Berlin-based artistic trio who came up with the idea for 100% Melbourne, granted us permission to adapt their concept for women and use it in our 2013 event.

We will create a performance by sourcing 51 women who reflect the demographics of the western region of Melbourne. We will hire a project worker skilled in theatre techniques and community development principles to coordinate the project. The project

worker and steering committee will review the statistical composition of the women in the region and select five criteria that best represent those women e.g. age, region of birth, family composition, sexuality and employment.

The cast will be recruited in a way that engages community strengthening strategies. Only one person is officially recruited; that person has 24 hours to find the next person and so on. At first, casting should be easy but as statistical categories fill up it will be harder to locate women who meet the remaining criteria. Participants will need to reflect on their social connections in order to find a woman who meets those criteria and so on until we have 51 women who represent the region.

The content of the show will be loosely dictated by a framework developed by the steering committee and project worker but the detail and stories come directly from the participants. Cast members will perform it during the week of International Women’s Day. WHW will create a 51% West facebook page, promote it on WHW website and produce a book.

This is the plan anyway. If you’d like to be involved in any way please contact Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator on 9689 9588 or email [email protected]

51% WestInternational Women’s Day 2013

Putting the western region women

on the mapNicola Harte, Communications Coordinator

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It is shocking that pregnancy and early motherhood can be a time for the commencement, continuation or escalation of intimate partner violence. The consequences of violence can be very damaging for mothers, their infants and the whole family and community. Often women can experience depression, isolation and low self-esteem. There is good evidence that women with more social support fare better than those with less.

Women’s Health West supported a La Trobe University study called MOSAIC to tackle this problem. The

MOSAIC, or Mothers’ Advocates in the Community, study hoped to strengthen the emotional health and wellbeing (e.g. reduce depression, anxiety and partner abuse) of pregnant women and mothers with infants experiencing partner violence, by offering social support in the form of non-professional mentor mothers. The program was funded by the previous Victorian government’s Community Support Fund and also the National Health and Medical Research Council.

MOSAIC offered focussed training and resources to 28 general practitioners and eight maternal and child health nurse teams in north-west Melbourne to better identify vulnerable women’s emotional and social needs, including their experience of partner abuse. MOSAIC also aimed to strengthen links between GPs, nurses and community-based services like WHW that offer support to women and children in this age group. For one group of women, we also offered up to a year of support from the local mentor mother mentioned above. Our major interest was to know if mothers with a mentor fared better than those without.

MOSAIC was able to recruit 60 local community women who were willing to be trained as mentor mothers by advertising in local newspapers and school newsletters. As part of a sub-study we also advertised on radio to

recruit Vietnamese women with the result that 17 per cent of participants were from Vietnamese backgrounds. Doctors and nurses identified 174 women to participate in the study and were able to follow-up with 133 of these women one year later. Of those contacted, 90 women were willing to consider mentors, compared with the 43 who agreed to act as a comparison in the trial and whose doctors and nurses offered support without mentors.

MOSAIC mentors offered both English and Vietnamese speaking mothers befriending, advocacy, parenting support and referrals to community-based support agencies, such as Women’s Health West or Berry Street. The great majority of women with a mentor (76 per cent) met with them weekly or fortnightly, in their own homes or somewhere safer. Most MOSAIC participants, 87 per cent, reported that the amount of time they spent with mentors was just right. Vietnamese mothers, who are often more isolated, were likely to want more time with their mentors.

MOSAIC found that fewer mentored women (22 per cent) than non-mentored women (33 per cent) were depressed after one year. Of those whose partners were abusing them, fewer mentored women were abused after a year and that abuse appeared to be less severe on average. Twice the number of mentored mums than non-mentored women had returned to study or training.

When asked what they discussed with mentors, women said the main topics were:

• Their current emotional state (84 per cent)

• Issues with partners (80 per cent)

• Coping with children (76 per cent)

• Staying on top of things (75 per cent)

• Thinking about the future (71 per cent)

• Focusing on my strengths (68 per cent)

• My own or children’s safety (58 per cent)

When asked what they most appreciated, the highest proportion (91 per cent) reported ‘someone who always encouraged me’ and ‘talking about anything that bothered me’ (90 per cent). When asked what they gained most, 70 per cent of women reported ‘feeling better about myself’, 66 per cent felt ‘less isolated, 65 per cent felt like ‘a more confident mother’ and 63 per cent reported feeling ‘happier’. Most women (82 per cent) said that they would recommend a mentor to their friends.

We believe this evidence adds strength to the argument that non-professional local community mothers, with the right training and supervision, can offer significant support and comfort to mothers experiencing partner abuse and that they benefit from this. This support is a promising strategy for improving safety and enhancing the physical and mental wellbeing among mothers experiencing intimate partner violence. We are seeking interest from local government to offer this mentoring to more mothers who would benefit from social support.

Angela Taft, Mother and Child Health Research, La Trobe University (with Rhonda Small, Kelsey Hegarty, Lyn Watson and Judith Lumley)

First group of MOSAIC mentors, Women’s Health West

MOSAICMothers Advocates in the Community – a study of mentor mother support to improve the safety and wellbeing of mothers with infants

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Funds for WHW Debra Wannan, Finance Officer

Women’s Health West would like to extend our thanks for the following financial contributions from February - June 2012. These much-appreciated grants and donations assist us to enhance our programs and services to women and children in the region.

donations to Women’s Health West are tax deductible. You can now make donations directly through our website at www.whwest.org.au/donate or call 03 9689 9588 for information on other methods of payment.

name description AmountGrants in advance Department of Families, Housing,

Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

Funding Agreement Payment 1 - Respectful Relationships: Me You and Us

$243,876.00

Maribyrnong City Council WELS Human Relations Program (Phoenix Youth Centre)

$5454.55

Total grants in advance $249,330.55

donations Grill’d Pty Ltd $100.00

WHW staff $50.00

Westbourne Grammar School Donation raised on International Women’s Day $314.00

Total Donations $464.00

Court Funds Magistrates’ Court of Victoria Criminal Justice Diversion Program $650.00

Magistrates’ Court of Victoria Sunshine Court Fund Donation $1,300.00

Total Court Funds $1,950.00

total Fundraising $251,744.55

Women’s Health West was one of only eleven organisations nationwide to secure funds from

the federal government to encourage healthy relationships among young people as a way of reducing violence against women.

The funding is part of the Australian Government’s $86 million National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-2022.

We will use the funds to implement Me, You and Us – a three-year respectful relationships education program with young women in the western region.

Me, You and Us is a multi-faceted program that will train and support forty-eight young women (18 to 24 years) to become ‘youth ambassadors’ in the primary prevention of violence against women.

The project will deliver respectful relationships education in youth organisations and to senior primary school students in the western metropolitan region of Melbourne.

This much needed funding allows Women’s Health West to strengthen and broaden our prevention of violence against women work with young people in the region.

Over one in three Australian women experience physical violence during their lifetime, and nearly one in five experience some form of sexual assault.

Victoria Police crime data shows that women in the western region of Melbourne are at particular risk of violence from their intimate partners, with a rate that is higher than the state average.

Violence against women is preventable. By responding to the causes of violence against women – such as disrespectful relationships and unequal power relations between women and men – it is possible to change the underlying factors that cause violence, and so stop it from happening.

Our ultimate vision is for all communities, cultures and organisations in the western region to be non-violent, non-discriminatory, gender equitable and promote respectful relationships.

Women’s Health West wins funds for

violence preventionNicola Harte, Communications Coordinator

Star newspaper


MEMBERSHIP FORM

TyPE OF MEMBERSHIP

individual Voting Member (woman who lives, works or studies in the western metro region)

organisational Member (organisation in, or whose client-base includes, the region)

Associate non-voting Member (individual or organisation outside the region)

CONTACT DETAILS

n A M e

(This person is also eligible to attend and vote at our Annual General Meeting)

o R G A n i S At i o n

C o n tA C t P e R S o n

P o S i t i o n

A d d R e S S

S U B U R B P o S t C o d e

P H o n e ( W ) P H o n e ( H )

e M A i L A d d R e S S

S i G n At U R e d At e

(Individual members only)

Membership is free. To apply, fill in this form and mail to Women’s Health West: 317–319 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011

Introducing…our new website!Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator

Women’s Health West is delighted to invite you to visit our brand new website!

We hope you’ve noticed that we’ve been working on an identifiable Women’s Health West ‘look’ for a few years… and we’ve been quietly developing a website that applies that imagery.

How do I find stuff?We thought a lot about how to organise our content so that the people who need to find it can find it easily. But we’ve also included a search function in case you’re in a rush!

IntuitiveFamily violence information is designed to appeal to women who are experiencing family violence with questions instead of labels: ‘where will I live?’ instead of ‘housing’ and ‘who can I talk to?’ instead of ‘counselling’. Things like the video showing how to

collect evidence safely if your partner breaches the intervention order are filed under ‘going to court’.

The health promotion, research and development section on the other hand organises our projects under our three priority areas: equity and social justice, mental wellbeing and social connectedness, and sexual and reproductive health. This structure is designed to provide practical illustrations of the ways we achieve our goals.

Interactive

you can join online. As a member you’ll receive our hard copy and electronic newsletters, our award winning annual report and an invitation to our annual general meetings.

you can also donate online. We provide three suggested amounts with information about how we could

use that donation plus a wild card ‘other’ – where you can nominate the amount.

you can share on social media.The news page has bite-sized chunks of the freshest WHW stories; share them on Twitter, Facebook and Delicious at the click of a button. You can also follow us on Twitter or Facebook.

you can order or download resources.Browse the new resource library and it’ll introduce you to each of our publications with a blurb, a photo and you can either download it right then or order a bundle and we’ll pop them in the post.

There’s an awful lot more on the site so go on, have a look! You’ll find it in the same place as the last one:

www.whwest.org.au

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NEWSLETTER SuRVEy

On 7 June Women’s Health West received a bronze at the Australasian Reporting Awards for our 2010-11 annual report.

ARA is a not-for-profit organisation that was established 60 years ago to encourage effective communication of financial and business information.

WHW first entered the awards four years ago to improve our transparency and accountability by benchmarking our report against the ARA criteria. ARA criteria are based on the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative, a non-profit organisation that promotes economic, environmental and social sustainability. GRI provides a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world.

Achieving a bronze award two years running is an absolute bonus for a report we were already proud of! It is available for a good read at www.whwest.org.au

Women’s Health West wins bronze at Australasian Reporting Awards

Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator

Why did you join Women’s Health West? (tick all that apply)

Strengthen voice of an organisation working to bring equity and justice to women in the west

Support a feminist organisation

Support a family violence organisation

Keep up to date with advocacy campaigns

You’re looking for work in the field

Academic interest

Other (please specify)

do you use social media?

Facebook

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Other (please specify)

do you prefer email or printed newsletters?

Email Print Both

Why?

if you prefer email, do you read them on your:

Computer Phone iPad Other digital reading device

Are you more likely to share a printed newsletter or an e-newsletter?

Print e-news Neither

Would you prefer it if Women’s Health West:

Switched to an e-newsletter

Sent an e-newsletter as well as a print newsletter

Only sent a print newsletter

Don’t mind

NEW!

L-R Georgie Hill, Chair WHW Board of Directors; Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator; Dr Robyn Gregory, WHW CEO

Women’s Health West’s 2010-11 annual report

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thank you for taking the time to fill in this survey. if you would like to receive our new e-newsletter or take part in campaigns and keep up with WHW’s work, please provide your name and email address here:

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Notices & Resources

7th Australian Women’s Conference

7 – 10 May 2013

‘Gender Matters: Determining Women’s Health’ will showcase cutting edge research and best practice approaches in women’s health policy and practice locally, across Australia and internationally.

www.womenshealth2013.org.au

Free computer classes for womenWIRE volunteer instructors run free weekly courses (four women per class) on basic computer skills and general internet use, and instructors follow your own pace and interests. Each course runs for three weeks with a two-hour class each week. No homework or exams!

Tuesdays or Thursdays 11am to 1pm

Women’s Information Centre, Ground level, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne 3000

Phone 9921 0878 or email [email protected]

Veronica Garcia, Information and Resources Worker

www.wire.org.auWIRE Women’s Information provides Victorian women with free and confidential support, information and referral on any issues.

www.thewomens.org.auThe Royal Women’s Hospital is Australia’s largest specialist hospital dedicated to improving the health of all women and newborn babies.

www.whv.org.au Women’s Health Victoria is our statewide women’s health promotion, information and advocacy organisation.

www.fpv.org.auFamily Planning Victoria’s focus is on sexual and reproductive health care, education and advocacy.

www.jeanhailes.org.auJean Hailes for Women’s Health translate research findings into practical health approaches for women.

www.relationships.org.auRelationships Australia provides relationship support services for individuals, families and communities.

www.dvrc.org.auThe Domestic Violence Resource Centre (Victoria) is a statewide resource centre for information about domestic violence and sexual assault, providing training, publications, information, referrals and links.

www.lovegoodbadugly.comLove: the good, the bad and the ugly is an online guide about love, respect and abuse in relationships for young women.

Lifeworks.com.auLifeWorks Relationship Counselling and Education Services provide affordable relationship services including individual counselling, relationship counselling, family

therapy, relationship education programs, family dispute resolution and mediation.

www.mcwh.com.auMulticultural Centre for Women’s Health is a women’s health organisation for all women from immigrant communities, including refugee and asylum seekers and women from emerging and established communities.

Western Region Health Centre

Links 4 WomenSocial support program linking chronically isolated women

8-week group program

Wed 10.30am - 1.30pm

Maidstone Community Centre 21 yardley St, Maidstone

Phone: 9334 6609

Women’s GroupSocial support for women in the Brimbank area with a lived experience of mental illness

Thu 1pm – 3pm (Free)

Horizons 2 Erica St, St Albans

Phone: 9364 1455

www.wrhc.com.au

WEB RESOURCESThe internet is a quick way to find out more about health conditions, organisations and support services. Below is a list of sites containing quality information commonly used by women in the western region.

Women’s Health West 317-319 Barkly Street

Footscray 3011

phone 9689 9588

fax 9689 3861

email [email protected]

website www.whwest.org.au

women’s health west – equity and justice for women in the west

whw in the news

Women’s Health West has featured in fifteen local news articles since the last edition of WHW news. Topics ranged from increases in rates of reporting family violence in the region, to the effects of the state budget on women’s health, to the Attorney-General Nicola Roxon visiting us to celebrate the funding of a new program using peer education to promote respectful relationships.

Full stories can be found online at www.whwest.org.au/news/media/articles

whw news

Documents

mental health

overall health

mental ill health

reproductive health

health west equity

health promotion team

long term health

whw news edition