PhotO: Scout Kozakiewicz

whw news

Edition 2 2014

sexual &
reproductive
health edition

These women are now equipped to raise awareness about human rights, gender equity and creating change together. Find out how on p.10

A word from the ceo

Welcome to the second edition of

WHW News for 2014, which focuses
on our priority area of sexual and
reproductive health. Womens Health West,
in partnership with 17 other organisations,
takes a strong lead in this area by facilitating
our regional plan, Action for Equity.
One of WHWs primary aims is to provide
a voice for women in the west, particularly
those women who are marginalised by their
circumstances. We cant think of a better way
to do this than by encouraging our clients and
community members to tell their own story.
In this edition, one of our clients provides
important insights into her experiences of
living with family violence and a disability and
the support available to assist her to become
safe. Leonie Cleary, from the Department of
Human Services, then explains the disability
and family violence initiative. This muchneeded program provides support to keep
women safe in their home or community.
Similarly, Nura Abubaker, one of our FARREP
workers, outlines consultations with young
African women and community and religious
leaders, on page 14, as part of our Caught
Between Two Cultures project. Consultations

Dr Robyn Gregory

such as these are key to making sure our

sexual and reproductive health programs
are informed and culturally responsive.
On page 4, WHW board director, Sam
Merrigan, provides a terrific account of
her staff for a day experience when she
attended the You, Me and Us program.
This initiative allows directors to meet with
staff and develop a better understanding
of their day-to-day work, a crucial step in
providing good governance. Im sure you will
find the article inspiring and informative.
I had the chance to participate in a similar
program with the Victoria Police in July.
This 3-day program was stimulating and
informative, providing a much deeper sense of
the daily pressures and on-the-spot decisionmaking that faces the men and women we rely
on for safety in our communities. You can read
more about this exciting program on page 3.
Ruby Roo who I am sure would be hopping
right out of her skin if she could spend a
day with the police! catches us up on all
of the activities of the childrens counselling
team in the Ruby Files on pages 8-9.

Continued p.2

womens health west equity and justice for women in the west

inside:
How do the state
and federal
budgets impact
on womens
health? p.10
Kate Hauser outlines
the potential positive
and negative impacts
on violence against
women, health, housing,
education and more

Not walking on
eggshells p.6
One womans experiences of family
violence and disability

Hope for the

future p.4
Come back to
school with Sam
Merrigan, one of our
directors, as she sits
in on our respectful
relationships program

A Word From the CEO

Continued from p.1

2
3
4
5
6

Credits

Kirsten Campbell and Shifrah Blustein

explore the long-term outcomes of our
work with women from South Sudan,
Burma and India in Our Community
Our Rights, on page 12. This program
has operated for three years with
federal funding, resulting in women
conducting their own human rights
projects within their communities.

What is the Disability

and Family Violence Crisis
Response Initiative?

Policewoman for a day

Behind the Scenes: Board
Behind the Scenes: Staff
Not walking on eggshells:
one womans story

8
10

The Ruby Files

12

Colour. Confidence. Life. Our

Community, Our Rights

14

Caught between two

cultures: A young African
womens sexual and
reproductive health project

What do the federal

and state budgets mean
for womens health?

15

Power On workshops and

mental health recovery:
the value of womancentred programs

16
17
17
18

Funds for WHW

19
20

Events and notices

Vicki Hester, our project worker for

wellbeing and disability, outlines the
latest Power On workshop conducted
by our partner agency, cohealth, on
page 15. Cohealth is the product of
a recent merger of three community
health services, and we are delighted
to see the continuation of the good
work previously undertaken by
each of those services to prioritise
the mental health and wellbeing of
women in the western region.
On pages 11-12, health promotion
worker, Kate Hauser, provides an
important gendered analysis of the

Featured publication:
FREE posters

Womens Health West

in the media

ISSN # 1834-7096
Editor: Nicola Harte, Communications
Manager
Contributors to this edition: Aoibheann,
Debra Wannan, Jude, Karen, Karin
Holzknecht, Kate Hauser, Kirsten Campbell,
Leonie Cleary, Miranda DellAnno, Nadine,
Nicola Harte, Nura Abubaker, Robyn
Gregory, Samantha Merrigan, Shifrah
Blustein, Sophie Campbell, Stephanie, Vicki
Hester
Photographers: Karin Holzknecht,
Miranda DellAnno, Scout Kozakiewicz,
Shan Keng, Stephanie
Illustrations: Isis and Pluto
Design and layout: Susan Miller,
millervision@netspace.net.au
Read this edition and archives of whwnews
online at www.whwest.org.au/news/
newsletter/
Edition 2 published: August 2014

Womens Health
West (WHW) is
the womens health
service for the western
metropolitan region of
Melbourne. We want to achieve equity
and justice for women in the west.
We have two main programs that
complement each other allowing us
to work across the continuum from
preventing problems, to responding to
problems after they occur.
Our health promotion, research and
development program plans and
implements activities designed to
promote womens health, safety and
wellbeing across three key areas
sexual and reproductive health, mental
health, and prevention of violence and
discrimination.
Our family violence service provides
women and children who experience
family violence with the range of
services they require while in crisis
such as court support, crisis housing

Edition 3 deadline: 1 September 2014

whwnews edition 2 2014

To this end, Womens Health West began

meeting with each of our members of
parliament in July. We informed them
of women and childrens health, safety
and wellbeing needs in our region
to ensure the party platforms of the
Greens, ALP and Coalition are responsive
to those needs. The information we
provided to MPs is available on our
website, which might assist all members
in their efforts to bring about equity
and justice for women in the west.
Finally, we express our sincere thanks for
the donations received from individuals
and organisations listed on page
16 these are crucial in supporting
our work at Womens Health West.

About Womens Health West

Membership form
Donation form

state and federal budgets, urging us to

contact our local members of parliament
to ensure they are informed about
what matters to women in the west
in the lead up to the state election.

and case management, through to

services designed to promote healing
and recovery, such as womens and
childrens counselling.
All women living, working or studying
in the western metropolitan region of
Melbourne are eligible for membership
of WHW, as are organisations whose
client base includes the western region.

Connect with
Womens Health West
Facebook
www.facebook.com/whwest
Twitter
www.twitter.com/
Womens Health West
is now LinkedIn!
Weve decided to host a company
page on LinkedIn, the worlds largest
professional network. If youre on
LinkedIn too, please connect with us
to receive our updates. To find us, login
and search for Womens Health West.

policewoman for three days

Dr Robyn Gregory, CEO

Policing makes fine fodder for writers of American television drama, but have you ever wondered how
realistic this is for our police? As a family violence service Womens Health West works closely with Victoria
Police so I thought I had a fair idea, but when Police Chief Commissioner, Ken Lay invited me to attend
a Community Awareness of Policing Program, I jumped at the chance! The program provides community
and business leaders with a unique insight into the operational functions of Victoria Police to enhance
understanding of their work and the challenges they face. I was full of anticipation when I met our host,
Acting Inspector Dagmar Andersen, at the Docklands police complex on 8 July.

he ten participants from government,

the community sector and private
business were given an overview
of the Victoria Police Blue Paper by
Commander Sue Clark in the magnificent
multi-faith chapel at the Glen Waverley
police training academy. This document
sets out the organisational vision to
2025, and reveals a much stronger focus
on crime prevention in a challenging
environment that includes steadily
increasing reports of family violence.
During the three-day program we were
exposed to many aspects of police work,
including critical incident management,
specialist units and the use of forensic
science in investigations. We visited a
number of operational environments
and took part in mock exercises.
On the first day, we were trained in
legislation regarding arrests and the
use of weapons, before being issued
with our own gun, capsicum spray and
baton. Of course, the gun and spray
were not real, but when confronted
by assailants armed with a knife and a
battle mace with a spiked ball on the
end, we had to choose which weapon,
if any, to draw against them. There was
no wrong choice as long as we could
explain our decision, illustrating first
hand the pressures that face new recruits
in the field. Some drew their gun, some
pepper spray, and some ran away!
We then observed a simulated family
violence incident that was handled
with great care and nuance. Next we
managed a critical incident involving a
police stabbing by providing direction
to operational police divisional staff,
detectives, air wing, the dog squad and
the critical incident response team. The
realistic manner in which this occurred
first via radio, then briefing the Critical
Incident Response Team prior to their
negotiation and arrest in a faux suburb
set up for training purposes provided a
strong rush of adrenaline and a very clear

sense of the urgent and responsible way

in which police must deal with incidents.
On day two we travelled to Williamstown
to the Search and Rescue Squad and
the Water Police. The visit was made all
the more poignant by the SARS recent
return from a ten-day search for missing
snowboarders at Mount Bogong.
They were nevertheless generous in
spending time with us, explaining the
use of equipment, outlining training
and their responsibilities. The squad
could theoretically spend a morning
in the snow searching for missing
hikers; midday rescuing a rock climber
who has fallen in the Grampians;
and the afternoon diving for a
person feared drowned in a boating
accident. Their level of training and
fitness, coupled with emotional and
physical resilience, was astounding.

The water police set up a mock

search and rescue incident for us

The water police set up another mock

incident for us; to coordinate the search
and rescue of people whose yacht was
hours late arriving at Queenscliff, last
seen near Cape Otway. The extent of the
tools and knowledge at our disposal was
quite extraordinary, including maps and
charts, statewide radio communication,
and computer programs that calculated
wind speed and water currents to define
a search area. The police helicopter or
Airwing we sent found two of the
crew floating about twenty nautical
miles from Aireys Inlet, while the fate
of the third remained unknown.

We were each assigned an

operational function of the police

After a delicious dinner prepared by

the SARS catering crew, we headed to
Clifton Hill to observe the Automatic
Number Plate Recognition software
at work, meet the Highway Patrol
and learn about the process for the
Booze Bus. We were impressed by the
professionalism of the crew focused on
preventing alcohol-related accidents
on a very cold 10-hour shift!
On day three we experienced the 000
emergency calls first hand, before
coordinating the statewide response
to a mock critical incident involving a
tsunami. Having successfully coordinated
the evacuation of the Victorian coastline
by lunchtime, we travelled to the
Forensic Science Laboratory where
we experienced the collection and
examination of evidence from a mock
crime scene. Our reaction was that if
you have committed a crime, fess up
now because your DNA is everywhere!
Thanks to Ken Lay, Dagmar Andersen
and their colleagues for the excellent
planning and generous sharing of
resources that enabled this program
to go ahead. I dont think there was
a person who came away from the
experience without a newfound respect
for the commitment to training, the
level of responsibility in sometimes
overwhelming circumstances, and the
rapid and professional response from
Victoria Police. We look forward to
continuing to work with the Victoria
Police to share ideas about how we
can all better meet the needs for safety
and wellbeing of every Victorian.

whwnews edition 2 2014

PHOTOS: Courtesy of Carmel Guerra

contents

Behind the scenes

WHW Staff
PHOTOS Karin Holzknecht, Shan Keng

Board Director Report

Samantha Merrigan
WHW Board Director

Last August, I had the great privilege to

observe the delivery of one of Womens
Health Wests health promotion
programs: You, Me and Us. Going in,
I had a broad understanding of the
program objectives to help 10- to
13-year-olds and 18- to 24-year-olds
build respectful relationships and
raise their awareness about what
constitutes ethical behaviour
but I didnt really know how that
would be achieved in practice.
I met one of Womens Health Wests
Health Promotion Workers, Melanie
Sleap, at Altona Primary School. Mel
and I sat at the back of the classroom
(on very small chairs) and waited while
the teacher prepared the children for
the day ahead. I felt the energy and
excitement levels in the room lift when
she introduced Mel. It was clear that the
kids had friends in other classes who had
already gone through the experience
and they were ready for their turn.

The kids were enthusiastic and engaged,

keen to point out exceptions to
societal norms and to share their own
experiences. Gently and respectfully,
Mel pointed out how they too are
shaped by their environment, what they
see on TV and the internet, what they
hear their parents say and what they
say to each other. Most importantly,
she gave them the tools to think
more deeply about how they think of
themselves and others around them
and even change their own behaviour.

Its hard to know what the kids took

away from the program or whether it
will affect their behaviour as they move
on so quickly to the next thing. I was
left with a strong sense of how these
kids are growing up in a world that is
vastly different from the one I grew up
in. This generation are encouraged to
question and challenge the status quo,
think for themselves and stand up to
authority. The importance of having
early conversations like the one in the
You, Me and Us program cannot be
overstated. These kids are our future and
if the reactions of the Altona Primary
School kids that day can act as a guide,
then I think we are in good hands.

The session finished with a music video

of Caught in the Crowd by Kate
Miller-Heidke. Its a great song with a
powerful message about the regret of
having failed a childhood friend in need
clearly, a painful lesson to learn.

whwnews edition 2 2014

Lisa

Receptionist

Family Violence Crisis Outreach

Worker

My first job was

executive assistant at
a sports management
consulting company
where I liaised with the
International Olympic
Committee to investigate
consulting opportunities for
the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Prior
to WHW, I was the regional manager
for a company specialising in custom
apparel. I have an MA in Sociology
and hope one day to have my own
charitable organisation. Outside of
work, I volunteer at Baptcare HomeStart mentoring a single mother and
her twins who have experienced
family violence. I enjoy my role at
reception, as different women come
in each day with their unique story.

Karin Holzknecht
Communications Worker

ILLUSTRATION Isis & Pluto

Over the next hour or so, Mel calmly and

thoughtfully guided the kids through
discussions and activities that posed
key questions about how society sees
the difference
between girls
and boys
and the role

that we all play, sometimes unwittingly,

in maintaining those stereotypes.
What does it really mean when we
call someone a girl when they cry
because they hurt themselves in the
playground? Why is it that girls wear
pants but boys dont wear skirts? How
is the introduction of new cultures
to our community affecting the way
we think about boys and girls? What
does this say about us, and about the
community that we are all part of?
We tackled all the big questions.

Shan Keng

I earned my first money by helping

on the farm in the Barossa, where I
grew up. My parents dealt with a pest
problem by giving my sister and me
a couple of cents per snail. Ive since
moved on to more glorious pursuits but
Ill never forget my snail-catcher roots.
After uni, I worked in communications
for a few environment-related agencies
in Canberra. I moved into non-profits
by volunteering as a communications
worker in Indonesia for a year. Before
joining Womens Health West I was
self-employed as an editor and studying
full time. My role here continues the
communications theme, and Im excited
to be working in an organisation that
has such an immediate impact.

My first job was waitressing at a crumby

little caf. It actually put me off coffee,
which may have subconsciously influenced
my pursuit of social work over hospitality
I just completed a Masters of Social
Work at RMIT. My student placements
were in a community centre, a mental
health organisation, youth and family
housing services and youth engagement
programs at YMCA Victoria. I hope to
be a positive impact on the lives of the
women I will work with and contribute
to building their resilience, strengths and
capacities alongside this fabulous team.

Brishna
Family Violence Crisis Outreach
Worker

My first job was as a sales person, aged

16, in our family business. Prior to WHW
I worked at Berry Street Victoria. I have
worked with young children, newly-arrived
people, womens groups, refuges, court
support, and women in family violence
crisis. I would like to know my work
colleagues and be a good and useful
member of the team. Outside of work, my
hobbies include walking, going to the gym,
reading and spending time with my family.

Anna
Family Violence Crisis Outreach
Worker

My first social services role was as

a volunteer home literacy tutor for
newly-arrived refugee women. Prior
to joining WHW, I worked as a team
leader in community development/
engagement, capacity building and self
exclusion support programs (Gamblers
Help). Most of my experience as a
health professional has been in the
alcohol and drug sector as a counsellor,
case-manager, clinical supervisor and
adult educator. My roles have included
triage and crisis clinician, complex
presentation case-manager/counsellor
and group facilitator. I hope to have the
opportunity to get to know the team
and make the most of the diversity and
wealth of knowledge and experience
within the WHW team as I orient
myself to the family violence sector.

submissions
influencing equity
and justice for women
in the west
July 2014

Joint letter to the

Attorney General
regarding the Federal
Disability Discrimination
Commissioners role

ogether with six other signatories,

WHW wrote in support of the
continuation of the federal Disability
Discrimination Commissioners role,
which became vacant in July 2014.
We consider the role an essential
mechanism for furthering the rights
of Australians with disabilities, and
value the nonpartisan, high-level
leadership the commissioner provides.

April 2014

Response to proposed
changes to the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975

ollowing an open letter signed by

155 organisations in Dec 2013,
WHW again recommended against
repealing Section 18C of the Racial
Discrimination Act 1975 as to do so
would dilute efforts to combat racism
in Australia. Unaltered, the Act provides
a strong statement from government
that racist behaviour is unacceptable
in all areas of Australian society.
For further information, or to read
the full submissions, please visit
www.whwest.org.au/news/
advocacy/submissions

whwnews edition 2 2014

Not walking on eggshells

One womans story
Linda*, Family Violence Outreach Client

Womens Health West provides crisis support to women who have experienced
family violence. We are grateful to Linda* for agreeing to share her story below:

him to go to sleep, grabbed my handbag

and walked out the door. Ive never
gone back, and thats only through the
help of Womens Health West (WHW).

m vision-impaired and need a carer. I

met a chap about six years ago I thought
was alright; he had a job, but he gave
it up to be my carer. He became abusive.
He head-butted me, broke my nose, gave
me black eyes. He even brought a woman
home when he thought I was at work and
strangled me in front of her. I kicked him
out, but I took him back within a week.
Women worry that well be alone and
no one else will love us, so we take them
back. The only way we seem to leave is by
meeting someone else, but we just meet
the same type of men. Its just getting over
that loneliness. Not many women still have
friends, because partners wont let you. Ive
got no friends, but I rely on my family.

The police were called to our property

many times, and they told WHW about the
abuse. He wouldnt leave my unit, so with
WHWs guidance, I went to court and got
an interim intervention order. When I went
back for the second order, the judge gave
me a five-year intervention order. But if it
wasnt for my worker, Id be back with him
now. I was scared of the repercussions of
getting an intervention order, but I did it.
Now WHW and the Disability and Family
Violence Crisis Initiative have put me in a
motel until I can go back to the unit. Then
WHW and Vision Australia are going to
help me install some security measures so
I wont be scared. My life is so different;
Im living in the hotel and singing like
Im Britney Spears! I was never allowed
to do that because Id wake him up. Its
the peace I love. Not being yelled at. Not
walking on eggshells and wondering,
will he love me or hate me today? If you
set them off on a tantrum, everythings
your fault, and youre the bad one. Now
I realise I wasnt the bad one. No one
deserves that. Dont even look at another
man until you find out who you are.

I went on a few more years with him and

the abuse wasnt as bad well, things like
throwing books in my face and breaking my
arm. He knew my family were aware of the
violence, so hed do things that wouldnt
leave bruises. The neighbours would call
the police because they were worried about
me. As my carer, he was supposed to do
the housework and cook dinner, but Id get
home from work and hed done nothing.
One day we had another argument and I
said, Dont you think its fair that you do
something? He started throwing glasses
and plates at me. Im blind, so I cant see if
theres glass on the floor. The police came
and removed him. I didnt go to work the
next day, and when he returned he said,
Im going to slit your throat for ringing
the cops. He strangled me. I waited for

Ive been single for about three months

now and it is the best move Ive ever made.
I just want to help as many women as I can.
Dont wait until youre 51; get help now.

In an emergency or if in immediate danger, call the police on 000 (triple zero). If you would
like to talk to a worker about your safety please call 03 9689 9588 during business hours
or 1800 015 188 after hours. If you need a telephone interpreter, call 131 450 (24 hours).

sexual &
reproductive
health edition

What is the Disability and Family Violence

Crisis Response Initiative?
Leonie Cleary, Team Leader, Disability and Family Violence Initiative, Department of
Human Services

n December 2011, the Disability and Family Violence Crisis Response Initiative (DFVCRI)
commenced as a 12-month trial to improve outcomes for women and their children
who have a disability and are experiencing family violence. This includes children with a
disability who are escaping family violence with their mother. They may require immediate
disability support to access safe accommodation while exploring longer-term housing
and support options, or may require immediate disability support to remain safe in their
home or community. Crisis accommodation responses vary depending on their needs, the
availability of alternative accommodation, and their ability to remain safely in their home
and community. An accommodation response can include a secure womens refuge, crisissupported accommodation, or motel accommodation in the immediate to short term.
An evaluation of the initiative in 2012 found the results to be positive particularly
in relation to the capacity to meet the needs of women and children with a disability
experiencing a family violence crisis. Here are some examples of instances in which women
and children have used the service.

Case Study 1

Sexual Assault provided the family with

support, and a case manager worked with
the family to explore longer term options.

A 25-year-old woman living in the Geelong

area, who had been diagnosed with an
intellectual disability, left her husband
due to family violence and relocated to
her mothers home with her 18-monthold baby. The grandmother supported
her daughter and granddaughter, while
the mother learned to cope with being a
sole parent. The ex-husband continued
to harass the family and frequent the
grandmothers home. When they reported
the harassment and visits to the police,
they were told nothing could be done due
to lack of evidence. The family violence
agency involved with the client contacted
DFVCRI and we organised for a security
camera to be installed and monitored. This
has helped the police lay further charges
against the ex-husband and the family feels
safer and more secure in their own home.

Case Study 3
A 57-year-old woman diagnosed with
muscular dystrophy was living with her
partner in Thomastown. After seriously
assaulting the woman, her partner was
admitted to a psychiatric hospital. This was
good news; however, our client had no
other support network. She moved to a
refuge, but without a carer or purpose-built
accommodation meeting her high level
personal care support needs was difficult.
DFVCRI provided personal care support until
she was able to move back to her modified
home and receive minimal ongoing support.

Case Study 4
A 40-year-old woman diagnosed with an
intellectual disability was living with her
partner in Wangaratta until she fled to
a friends house after a series of family
violence incidents. However, as it was a
small town, the two would unfortunately
meet at homeless services. The family
violence agency and DFVCRI relocated
the woman away from the town and
offered her accommodation options and
personal care support. She has relocated to
Melbourne where she has a disability client
services case manager who supports her.

Case Study 2
A ten-year-old girl with autism was
supported by her grandfather after
school because of her parents shift work.
This arrangement ended following his
sexual assault of the girl. The disability
case manager requested support until
the parents could alter their work
arrangements. DFVCRI provided three
hours of respite/personal care support each
night for a school term. The Centre Against

*Not her real name

whwnews edition 2 2014

whwnews edition 2 2014

sexual &
reproductive
health edition

The Ruby files

A kangaroo kids can talk to

Ruby Roo the Kangaroo, Stephanie, Nadine
and Aoibheann

Hi boys and girls! Ruby here, letting you

know all the exciting stuff I have been
doing lately.

Cool new room

m hopping up and down with excitement at

the moment because we are nearly finished
setting up a new childrens counselling room
at Womens Health West! I got my measuring
tape out of my pouch to see where we can put
our new furniture. I look forward to meeting
new boys and girls in our cool new room.

100 Story Building

hopped around to 100 Story Building in the

Footscray mall recently to make friends with
the creative staff there. 100 Story Building is a
great place to go if you are a kid whos interested
in storytelling or writing. Their after-school
story sessions and school holiday programs
are awesome AND they have a secret door to
sneak into the bank next door! Hmmm, how
much cash can I stash in my pouch?? Heres
a photo of me with the CEO, Lachlann.

SPLASh

n term two this year I helped with the

SPLASh (Safe Place for Laughter, Arts and
Sharing) in Melton. I loved working with the
two fantastic co-facilitators: one was from
Merri Outreach Services named Talia (she
knows heaps about Harry Potter!) and one
was from Djerriwarrh Community Health
named Maryvonne. The children all worked
really hard, had a great time and were really
honest and brave when they talked and made
art about their family violence experiences.

Sometimes its fun to use a cushion to

show your feelings, it can make it easier
to talk about how you feel

This term, I also helped with another

group called Little SPLASh, a new
group for pre-school children and their mothers who have experienced family violence.
I had lots of fun decorating a life-sized cubby house with dots, making play dough and
singing songs. The mothers shared what they love about their children and how family
violence has made being a mum harder with more challenges. The children learnt to play
and share with each other, and the mothers got to learn more about their children.

I had lots
of fun
decorating
a life-sized
cubby house
with dots

Look out for this logo if youre

walking down Footscray mall and
pop in!

PHOTOS Stephanie

The SPLASh group is a Safe Place for

Laughter, Arts and Sharing

whwnews edition 2 2014

whwnews edition 2 2014

What do

the Federal & State Budgets

mean for womens health?

Kate Hauser, Health Promotion Worker

Womens Health West has been looking closely at the Federal and Victorian budgets for 201415 and we
are concerned that many decisions will have a disproportionate impact on women, and will increase health
inequity in Australia. It is essential that budgeting takes gender equity into account, and that decisionmaking reflects the different experiences, needs and concerns of women and men. This article highlights
several positive commitments from state and federal government, and also outlines the potential negative
impacts on womens health, wellbeing and safety in key areas.

Violence against women

The Federal Government will honour
important past funding commitments
in the National Plan to Reduce
Violence against Women and their
Children 20102022 and the $5.2
million committed over five years for
the Foundation to Prevent Violence
against Women and their Children.
Disappointingly, there is no new
federal funding to prevent violence
against women, and the $4 million cut
from family courts will cause delays
to family hearings and compromise
the welfare of children and safety
of women experiencing violence.
In Victoria, we were excited to see
just over $42 million in new funds
committed to the family violence sector.
This will increase our capacity to offer
crisis response and counselling to
women experiencing family violence.
What is most significant about this
new money is that it is the first time
that crisis response to police referrals
has received direct funding.
While new state funding is welcome,
it still falls short of what is needed
to meet the needs of women and
children escaping violence.

Health
The $7 Medicare co-payments
announced in the Federal Budget will
cause additional financial stress for
low income women and men. This
will have a greater overall impact on

whwnews edition 2 2014

women, who experience higher rates

of disability and mental illness and are
more likely to need to visit their GP
regularly. More women than men are
sole or primary carers and responsible
for the health care of children and family
members who are elderly or who have
a disability. Census data shows that 84
per cent of single parent families in the
western region are headed by women.
We were frustrated by the
announcement of a $367.9 million cut
to federal preventative health spending
over four years, and the plan to close
the National Preventive Health Agency.
The Victorian 201415 Budget,
however, outlines several positive
spending announcements for public
health services1. This good news is
tempered by significant gaps in action to
redress health inequity and no increase
in funding for prevention work.
Considering the recent work of the
State Government to engage with
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender
and intersex communities, and the
development of a Victorian LGBTI
Health and Wellbeing Strategy, we are
concerned that no new funding has
been committed to initiatives in this area.

Housing and homelessness

Australia has taken a step backwards
in our national response to
housing and homelessness.
No ongoing funding will be allocated
to the National Rental Affordability
Scheme and there is no certainty

10

beyond 2015 in the joint funding

agreement between state and federal
governments to redress homelessness
and increase housing affordability.
This will have a disproportionate
impact on women escaping family
violence, who make up 32 per cent
of people seeking specialist homeless
services across Australia. Women and
other disadvantaged population target
groups rely heavily on the availability
of social housing and affordable
private rental accommodation.
We applaud the Victorian Governments
commitment of $124.4 million over
four years to the National Partnership
on Affordable Housing, but it is unclear
how the services will continue to meet
the needs of people experiencing
housing stress and homelessness if longterm federal funding is not secured.
The absence of new funds for
social housing is a significant gap
in the State 201415 Budget.

Income support and

entitlements
This years Federal Budget contained
a strong message that government
was making hard decisions in welfare
spending to encourage greater
participation in employment. Our
concern is that spending decisions
included in this budget will exacerbate
poverty and inequity, but not adequately
redress the barriers to workforce
participation. Such barriers include the
lack of affordable childcare options,
workplace stigma and discrimination,

and the lack of accessible work

options for people with a disability.
It is also clear that changes to
income support payments will have a
disproportionate impact on women,
who make up the majority of single
parents and primary carers. For example:
unemployed single parent
An
with one eight-year-old child
will lose 12 per cent of their
weekly income ($54 per week)
parents earning two Single
thirds of the average wage will
lose between 5.6 and 7 percent
of their disposable income
Family Tax Benefit B will be
The
replaced with a $750 annual
payment. This means a loss of
over $3,000 per year for some
parents and a shift away from
fortnightly payments. This loss
of fortnightly payments is likely
to increase the homelessness
risks for sole-parent families who
do not receive child support.
Unemployed young people will
experience greater financial hardship
following new restrictions involving
six-month delays in Newstart
payments and which, once accessed,
only last for a six-month period.
This has dangerous implications for
youth homelessness, young families and
women leaving violence. For example,
we know that many women stay in
unsafe situations because of financial
insecurity. Women experience additional
barriers to maintaining regular work
due to ongoing violence and abuse.
As a positive example of support
for participation in employment
and education, we welcome the
Federal Governments commitment
to rolling out the full National
Disability Insurance Scheme.

Education

Legal support

Vocational education is an important

pathway for supporting women from
marginalised and disadvantaged
backgrounds to participate in
employment, so the absence of
gender equity considerations in
this area of the Federal Budget
is extremely disappointing.
To save $1 billion over four years, several
programs that primarily support women
have been cut, including a program
to support single and teenage parents
and a workplace English language and
literacy program that supported mainly
newly-arrived and refugee women.
In a backward move for gender equity,
savings will be partially redirected to a
new initiative to support participants
in trade apprenticeships for maledominated industries, which represents
only five per cent of all students
enrolled in vocational education.
The Federal Budget also outlines
plans to deregulate fees for higher
education, which would remove
limits on the amount that universities
can charge students for tuition,
and plans to increase interest on
student loans from approximately
3 per cent up to 6 per cent.
These decisions will have a
disproportionate impact on young
Australian women. Women participate
in higher education at a rate 1.4 times
higher than men, but earn on average
only 58 per cent of what men with
a bachelor degree would earn over
their lifetime. This disparity is affected
by the 17 per cent gender pay gap,
time that many women take out of
the workforce to care for children,
and the systemic undervaluing of
female-dominated industries.

Community legal services have warned

that the funding cuts announced in
the Federal Budget and over the past
year mean they are likely to close their
outreach offices. This means there
would be fewer lawyers available to
provide legal support and advice,
including court support to women who
have experienced family violence.
Services and programs affected
include the Legal Aid Commission,
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Legal Services, Family Violence
Prevention Legal Services and the
Community Legal Service Program.
Our examination of the budget suggests
there are a number of decisions that
will increase inequity and disadvantage
in Australia. However, many of the
decisions outlined in the Federal Budget
are yet to be finalised, as they must
be drafted into legislation and put to
a vote in the Senate. Work toward a
fairer go for Australian families is already
underway, such as the #BusttheBudget
rallies. In Victoria, the state election
in November presents an opportunity
to call on all parties to prioritise
womens health, safety and wellbeing.
We suggest you contact your local
member of parliament and let them
know that this is your priority too!
From February to June this year,
Womens Health West spoke with
women across our region about how
they get involved in community and how
they would like to engage with WHW
in the future. Many women told us that
they would like to be more involved in
influencing social and political change, so
watch this space for activities in this vein.

1 See VCOSS (2014) State Budget Breakdown

2014-2015 for more details

11

whwnews edition 2 2014

Colour. Confidence. Life.

Our Community, Our Rights
Kirsten Campbell and Shifrah Blustein, Health Promotion Workers

HW has worked with women from

South Sudan, Burma and India in
three iterations of Our Community,
Our Rights over the past three years.
We have walked with women as they
participated in workshops designed to
build confidence and skills in human
rights, advocacy and civic participation,
and we have supported them to plan
their own advocacy projects. The project
continues to be delivered with Indian
women, but weve also recently met
with women from Burma and South
Sudan (who participated in the 2013 and
2012 iterations respectively) to explore
the long-term outcomes of the program
in their lives and their communities.

We are a group of like-minded

women starting our journey
towards a better future.
Since February 2014, WHW has worked
closely with a group of fourteen Indian
women who are passionate about
promoting respect for human rights.
The women came to the program
with a range of experiences: some had
recently settled in Australia and were
struggling to get by on temporary
visas with limited access to support;
others had been in Australia longer and

whwnews edition 2 2014

identified as survivors
of family violence; other
women had experienced
exploitation in the
workforce but didnt
know they had rights
and choices. What
united the group was
the thought of turning
an abstract desire for
a better, fairer world
into practical skills
and strategies to start
making this happen.
We facilitated a series
of workshops designed
around the concerns
and interests of the
participating women.
At their conclusion,
womens feedback
and stories reflected
that this journey towards concrete
action had begun. Women described
feeling more confident, resourceful,
resilient, purposeful and practical, and
better able to make decisions. They
shared the following reflections:

I have always wanted to be a part

of change that positively affects
the lives of vulnerable women and

12

children. This project has

given me the opportunity
of time, resources and
fellowship of like-minded
women to make it a
reality. I am looking
forward to being a part
of this community group
for a long time and
effecting positive change
in peoples lives. This
workshop has also given
me the opportunity to
be a part of [something]
and to be included.

Consciously knowing
about basic human rights
has shifted my thinking
and increased [my] love
and respect for everyone. I
learned the importance of
gender equality in relation
to family violence. This has given me
confidence to talk about and promote
gender equality. I have become more
wise and conscious that I CAN make a
difference to humanity for happiness.
They also shared stories of putting
their new confidence and skills into
action by advocating assertively
for themselves and others.

Sustaining Change
South Sudanese women and women
from Burma gathered during early
2014 to reflect on personal and
community change that Our Community,
Our Rights has facilitated. Thinking
together about the different facets of
the program workshops, project
planning, working with communities
and overcoming challenges one
South Sudanese woman involved in
a successful project on preventing
violence against women said:
I was the first person who wanted
to give up [on the project]. It was
hard and I was busy with my family.
But in the end there was a sense
of achievement that you could do
it. I hadnt done anything like this
before. In Africa, human rights are
there but they are something you
dont use. In Australia, they are
used more and differently. Without
working together, nothing would be
happening. It makes a big difference
because sometimes you dont know
what to do or say. Before, you dont
know and you feel alone. Now,
you know what your rights are and
you can speak out. You know you

are not alone. You have people

that can help and stand by you.
For another woman, participating in Our
Community, Our Rights was the first
step in realising a long-term aspiration
of being a human rights advocate:
I [have] a goal of being a
humanitarian aid worker or to
study human rights law... So I saw
this project as a stepping stone to
achieving this, learning lots of new
information and then looking for
the next step. After Our Community,
Our Rights, I was part of training for
South Sudanese in project planning
and advocacy by Oxfam and AusAID.
I dream of going overseas and
working or researching on human
rights violations. Our Community,
Our Rights was an access point.
Seven women from Burma came
together on a
cold May day
in Werribee
and celebrated
the changes
they had
achieved since
participating in
Our Community,
Our Rights
in 2013. The
changes were
diverse: three
had become
mothers for the
first time; others
had obtained
meaningful paid
or voluntary
roles in the
community
sector and
in their own
community organisations. For another
participant, acquiring stable public
housing after living in an extremely
run-down but expensive flat was
the change that had the biggest
impact on her life and health.

13

Overwhelmingly, the women had

changes in common, the strongest
being confidence and the flow-on
impact this had on their capacity to
advocate for and help their community:
[I learned] how to defend myself,
especially at work. I feel confident
and know how to defend myself
and what I have to do.
[I got] confidence, because in our
culture we stay down, dont talk
good about ourselves. Now I am
more confident to speak out for
rights and also speak up for myself,
like at a job interview I can
say good things about myself.
I have become a reliable person, and I
have the skills to help my community.
All of the women had become resourcepeople in their community, directing
other community
members to the right
service, standing
up for others when
things were unfair,
and raising awareness
throughout their
communities about
human rights, gender
equity and creating
change together.
WHW are developing
factsheets and a short
film to communicate
what weve learned
and inspire others
to work together
for the promotion
and protection
of human rights.
Watch this space!

sexual &
reproductive
health edition

whwnews edition 2 2014

PHOTOS Scout Kozakiewicz

Colour. Confidence. Life. A group of Indian women gather and convince the project worker to be one of
them and don a colourful sari on their last day of workshops. A South Sudanese woman reflects on her
experience as a refugee coming to a totally unfamiliar country and gradually developing her human rights
knowledge. Women from Burma gather to share stories of making a difference by helping their community
understand and assert their rights.

After the workshops, WHW supported

participants to plan and deliver three
advocacy projects of their own. One
group has produced a short film to
raise awareness amongst international
students of their rights and the
help available. Another group has
developed a resource for police and
support agencies that aims to build
their capacity to work sensitively and
communicate effectively with women
from the Indian community. A third
group has produced a pamphlet for
women from the subcontinent applying
for intervention orders that aims to
prepare them for the process and link
them with culturally specific support. For
more information about these projects,
visit http://whwest.org.au/rights.

A young African womens sexual and reproductive health project

Nura Abubaker, FARREP Community Worker

Caught Between Two Cultures is a project that aims to enhance young African womens confidence,
independence and capacity to make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing now and into
the future. Our goal is to prevent the practice of female genital mutilation or, as it is also known, cutting
(FGM/C).
The three main objectives are to:

empower young African women to

make informed decisions about their
sexual and reproductive health
develop young African womens
confidence, independence
and leadership skills
promote attitudes and behaviours
among young women that support
elimination of FGM/C, which causes
a range of sexual and reproductive
health complications. This is essential
so that they choose not to practice
FGM/C on their daughters.

In 2014, WHW undertook a series of

community consultations in Melbournes
western suburbs. The consultations
explored young womens, mothers
and community and religious leaders
perspectives about the sexual and
reproductive health of young African
women. This work the first of its
kind in Victoria details how holistic,
community-led health promotion
programs must be implemented to
prevent FGM/C and overcome the taboo
and sensitivity of sexual and reproductive
health among African communities.
The consultation revealed the need
for culturally appropriate sexual
and reproductive health programs
for women led by experienced
bilingual educators. Four out of five
young women in this report spoke
about the importance of culturallyresponsive services that meet the
needs of young African women.
It is good to have African worker
or worker from similar cultural
background to deliver the session
on sexual and reproductive health as
it allows parents to know that the
information is culturally appropriate
due to the information delivered by

whwnews edition 2 2014

a person who has a full knowledge

about the cultural norms of the
community. (Young woman)
I would prefer if it comes from
young African person. I think young
people will feel more comfortable
and will have confidence because
that person understands them;
they have the same culture, they
will have respect for the religion
and understand. (Young woman)
Womens lack of sexual and
reproductive health literacy was
also a concern of the young women
interviewed. Sexual health or specifically
sexuality is not discussed in some
cultures, and this could become one of
the main reasons women do not seek
the information or health support they
need to prevent sexual and reproductive
health problems. When asked to
identify the barriers to this type of
discussion some women leaders said:
I didnt grow up talking about it
so that is a barrier and something
[youre] expected to be shy
about. (Community leader)
Its [a] very sensitive topic. It is
not Islamic, of course, to keep it
under the carpet; it is [a] cultural
thing. It is [a] very confined topic
and it is not within the reach of
everyone. (Religious leader)
During the consultation women also
spoke about the need to provide
emotional support and counselling to
women affected by FGM/C, especially
women who are deciding to undergo
de-infibulation surgery or women
who are pregnant. They emphasised
the importance of seeking emotional
support from friends and family when
attending appointments with health
professionals. Not surprisingly, all five

14

young women spoke about the physical

and emotional implications of FGM/C on
their body, and the need for information
regarding FGM/C both before and after
childbirth and more importantly
before and after the marriage, when the
de-infibulation procedure takes place.
You go through emotional and
mental [stress] when you are
circumcised. The side effects
also happen when you undo (deinfibulate) [the procedure]. What
happens to your emotions, how
you are feeling, the stress and
the pain that you go through...
I think you need someone to
support you and help you get your
feeling[s] out. (Young woman)

Power On workshops &

mental health recovery
The value of woman-centred programs

Vicki Hester, Project Worker, Wellbeing and Disability

One of our primary health care partners, cohealth, recently added

Power On workshops to the range of mental health recovery programs
they offer and sent two of their staff and a peer educator to Womens
Health West to be trained as Power On facilitators. In June they
delivered a workshop that was consistently attended and very popular.
This is a significant decision because Power On is one of the few
woman-centred health programs available through mental health
services in Victoria.
Power On has given me a sense
of direction, strength I can look
after myself in a better way just
a way of living and a purpose. Ive
grown Im not how I used to be.

Finally, sexual and reproductive health

education must use appropriate
cultural terminology and involve
cooperation between parents, the
schools and religious leaders.
Schools or health services should look
[for] someone from their culture or
providers who have experience with
FGM/C or someone who has insight
into both the culture [of those] who
have FGM/C and those who do not.
Its about giving a balanced view
rather than imposing what people
think and getting people to see what
FGM/C is actually like. (Academic)

Future directions
We now plan to establish a working
group to develop a health promotion
project informed by these findings.
To find out more about Caught
Between Two Cultures, please call
or email the FARREP team at Womens
Health West.
Phone: 9689 9588
Email: info@whwest.org.au

Its given me hope and opened

me up. Its taught me about selfesteem and to look after myself.
I feel like a different person.
Women often need womancentred programs because:

Social determinants such as

violence against women, inequity
and economic disadvantage can
impact on womens mental health

The prevalence of violence

against women underlines the
need for organisations and the
community to support the existence
of safe spaces for women

Women experience higher rates

of anxiety and depression

Women are less likely to fully

participate in groups if they
have to compete with men

Women may be uncomfortable

talking about woman-specific
topics in front of men

Some women prefer to discuss

priorities, considerations and ways of
problem solving with other women

Women may identify different

emotional support needs to men
I had a lot of issues with my expartner. I let him walk all over
me. The last couple of months
Ive learnt to say No, stop.
Amazingly, its worked. [In the
past] I wouldnt do that because
its my own needs. Thats what
Power On has taught me. Ive been
more aware of my own needs.
I think Ive accepted my weight and
my body. Im going to focus more on
healthy eating and regular exercise.
Im sixty years old. For the rest of
my life I would like the best possible
health. Im never going to look like
a skinny model, I never have. I just
want to be the best possible me I can
be. Ive gotten past that shaming.

Power On works from the premise

that women experience better health
when they feel emotionally safe, when
they recognise and use the skills and
resources they already have, when they
build healthy social support structures,
and when they can separate their self-

15

image from social conditioning that

reduces their ability to assert themselves.
While there are a range of services
available to women with a mental
health diagnosis, it is crucial that they
also experience a sense of control and
choice over how they use these services.
I feel more assertive. Ive even
challenged my rheumatologist.
Recently I said, Do you
have an actual plan in your
treatment for me? Its changed
my life for the better.
It makes you dig deep. Just
makes you more aware of
things you do and dont do.
Power On recognises that participants
knowledge is valuable and worth sharing
with others. Power On applies adult
learning principles that recognises the
experience and knowledge that adults
have accumulated, understand that
they will be discerning about what they
need to know, and that theyll want
to put it into practice. These principles
accommodate the learning needs of
people with a mental health diagnosis.
[When] recovering, your mind is
still a bit fuzzy with everything
thats going on. You dont always
have clarity, so being lectured at
it doesnt matter what you say
very little will be absorbed.
I like the five [and] ten minute
activities that we did we didnt
have to just sit down and listen
to someone like its a lecture. It
was broken up... it made it easier
and more likeable to listen.
Every single woman [in the
group] is really intelligent and
is the expert on their own
lives. I know because Ive been
with them for twelve weeks
and Ive seen it. Sarah and I
were just the glue to put it
all together and I think thats
how theyve learnt in a better
environment, because its not just
us telling women the answers.
Cohealth Power On facilitator
Congratulations to all the participants
and to the extraordinary skills of
the cohealth facilitators Sarah
Porter and Miranda DellAnno.

whwnews edition 2 2014

Photo: Miranda DellAnno

Caught between two cultures

Women of the West fundraiser

featuring the Swing Sisters

Featured publication

Free posters
Karin Holzknecht, Communications Worker

The numbers are shocking.

or Victorian women aged 15 44, male intimate partner

violence is the leading contributor to death, disability
and illness far more than other risk factors such
as drugs, alcohol, obesity or high blood pressure.
Since the age of 16, more than half of Australian women experience
some form of physical or sexual violence.
What can we do about it?
We need to try to prevent violence before
it happens and support women who are
experiencing violence. We need to get
the message out that family violence is a
crime and that there is support available.

donations

Womens Health West have two FREE

posters that you can display in your library,
community centre, caf, surgery, office,
school, pub, laundromat, public toilets
wherever you can think to put them! Please
order some today and help us spread the
word by putting these posters where they
can be seen by anyone and everyone.

Debra Wannan, Finance Officer

Sophie, Crisis Accommodation Coordinator

PHOTO: Karin Holzknecht

Womens Health West would like to extend our warmest thanks

for the following contributions from March to May 2014. For
example, the inimitable Women of the West organised a night of
dancing and entertainment that left participants grinning for days
afterwards, while raising $650 for Womens Health West! These
much-appreciated donations and grants help us to enhance our
programs and services. Every donation goes straight to assisting
women and children.
Donor

Type of Donation

Tania Goodwin

Childrens clothing

Patricia Greenwood
Sea Breeze Quilters

6 pamper packs
5 quilts
Assorted toys including knitted rabbits

Maxi Heron

Childrens clothing and assorted toys

Womens Health West Publications

Order by mail

Impact for Women

30 mothers day parcels

3 bags of knitted goods and new underwear

This form may be used as a Tax Invoice for GST purposes

Order Form Tax Invoice
ABN 24 036 234 159

Communications Worker
Womens Health West
317 319 Barkly Street FOOTSCRAY VIC 3011

Order by fax

03 9689 3861

Faye and Elisabeth

Zonta Club of Melton

10 tickets to the musical Gypsy

Order by email

info@whwest.org.au

Order by phone

03 9689 9588

Payment

Please send payment with your order or we can

invoice you. Cheques payable to: Womens
Health West

Amount

Women of the West

Proceeds from
fundraising evening

Marian & EH Flack Trust

Emergency Relief

RE Ross Trust

Interpreter for respectful

relationships program
in Western English
Language School

Court ordered donation

TOTAL

Family violence

$550.00
$787.59
$2,541.00

$400.00
$4,278.59

Donations are tax deductible. To donate online www.whwest.org.au/aboutus/donations

16

order form

Violence against women is unacceptable in any culture

A3 Poster
FREE

Donor

Members of Zonta Club of Melton with Jacky of

Womens Health West

whwnews edition 2 2014

To place your order please complete the

publication order form below, email info@
whwest.org.au, call us on (03) 9689
9588, or visit our website to order online
at www.whwest.org.au/resources

Description

Qty (max. 50)

Family violence is a crime. You are

not alone. Help is available.

delivery DETAILS
Name:

This poster is available to display in your library,

community centre, cafe, surgery anywhere
we can get this important message out.

Safe at Home
A3 Poster
Description

Organisation:
Postal Address:

FREE

Postcode:

Qty (max. 50)

Phone: Fax:

This poster promotes Safe at Home, a

program that supports women to stay
in their home if its safe to do so.

Email:

A range of brochures and fact sheets are available from our web site
www.whwest.org.au/resources

17

whwnews edition 2 2014

Policy and law reform Snapshot

New Sunrise Womens Group in Sunshine!

Kate Hauser, Health Promotion Worker

omens Health West engages in activities designed to change the structural factors that cause and maintain the conditions under
which women and their children face discrimination. We monitor the context in which our work occurs and we maintain an
environmental scan on our website outlining key policy documents, legislative reforms and the external policy environment that
relate to womens health, safety and wellbeing. This is just a snapshot, read more here, www.whwest.org.au/news/policy/

Federal Government

Victorian Government

Senate Inquiry into Domestic

Violence in Australia

Crimes Amendment (Protection of

Children) Bill (2014)

On 26 June 2014, the Commonwealth

Government initiated an inquiry focusing
on the prevalence and impact of
domestic violence in Australia particularly
on women living with a disability and
women from Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander backgrounds. It will
explore the factors contributing to the
present levels of domestic violence,
the adequacy of policy and community
responses and the effects of housing,
legal and economic policy decisions
on womens ability to escape violence.
The inquiry will also examine ways the
government can best support, contribute
to, and drive the social, cultural and
behavioural shifts required to eliminate
violence against women and their
children. The final report is scheduled
for release on 27 October 2014.

In March 2014, the Victorian

Parliament passed amendments to
the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). The Crimes
Amendment (Protection of Children)
Bill 2014 expands mandatory reporting
requirements where a person has a
reasonable belief that a sexual offence
has been committed against a child
under the age of 16 years. Nongovernment organisations working
in the family violence sector provided
comment. They supported measures
to increase accountability in the
prevention of, and response to, child
abuse but raised a strong concern
that failure to protect laws do not
adequately recognise the dynamics
and complexities of family violence.
In particular, they fail to take account
of the powerful barriers to a woman
leaving an abusive relationship or
reporting the abuse against her and her
children, including a fear of retribution.

Australias National Research

Organisation for Womens Safety
(2014)
In May 2014, the Commonwealth
Government launched Australias
National Research Organisation for
Womens Safety (ANROWS) as an
initiative under Australias National Plan
to Reduce Violence against Women and
their Children 2010-2022. ANROWS is
funded jointly by the Commonwealth,
state and territory governments to
undertake research aimed at addressing
the high rates of domestic, family and
sexual violence against women and
their children and improving outcomes
for victims. The Victorian Coalition
Government has committed $1.3
million over three years. For further
information see: http://anrows.org.au/

whwnews edition 2 2014

Notices

Victorian Social Housing Framework

On 28 March 2014, the Victorian
Government launched New Directions
for Social Housing: A Framework for a
Strong and Sustainable Future, a longterm framework outlining three strategic
directions of social housing in Victoria:

Invest in safety and community

development to make social
housing a better place to live

Improve access to services

including connections study
and work opportunities

Boost investment to renew and

upgrade existing public housing

18

The framework sets out governments

commitment of $1.3 billion over five
years to upgrade Victorias social
housing. According to the Community
Housing Federation of Victoria,
only $149 million of this amount
represents new spending. As part of the
consultations, WHW endorsed a joint
statement from the community sector,
calling for accessible, affordable and
appropriate public housing solutions.

Victorian Refugee and Asylum

Seeker Health Action Plan (20142018)
In June 2014, the Coalition Government
launched the Victorian Refugee and
Asylum Seeker Health Action Plan
2014-2018. The plan outlines a longterm strategy that allows the Victorian
health system to meet the health
and wellbeing needs of people from
refugee backgrounds and asylum
seekers. This new model will guide the
implementation of additional funding
of $22.2 million (over four years).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Sunrise womens groups are social groups

for isolated women of all ages who have a
disability and want to meet other women
and feel connected. The group is open to
women with a physical and/or intellectual
disability and women who experience
mental illness.

11 Sep

Self Defence

Guest presenter: Learn some skills to help

keep safe.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

25 Sep

Iramoo
Sustainable
Community
Centre

Meet at the Visy Hub and catch a train to St

Albans. Discover a local community garden.
Cost: Members will need
a valid Myki card

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

9 Oct

Managing
anxiety

Understanding anxietywhat causes it and

how to manage it as best you can.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

23 Oct

Knitting/
Crochet

Learn how to knit or crochet, and if you

already know, help teach others.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

6 Nov

Sunshine
Leisure
Centre

Meet at the hub and walk to the leisure

centre for a tour and to find out whats on.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

20 Nov

Womens
Health

Guest presenter: Find out what you need to

know and do to keep healthy at any age.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

We meet fortnightly from 10am1.30pm

at the VISY hub. The hub is wheelchair
accessible and there is a train and bus hub
nearby. You can see the calendar of events
for the Laverton and Melton groups at
www.whwest.org.au/sunrise
Please contact Vicki Hester for more
information or to join a group:

4 Dec

Positive
Thinking

Tips and tools for trying to keep positive no

matter what life throws your way.
Cost: FREE

Visy Cares Hub

10am 1.30pm

18 Dec

End of year
lunch

Good company and a free

meal to see the year out.

To be
announced

We come together to:

Build friendships and support each other
Get information about staying healthy
Try new things and have some fun!

Phone: 9689 9588

Email: vicki@whwest.org.au

Visy Cares Hub, 80b Harvester Road, Sunshine. Ph: 9091 8200

Local Government and

Community Sector
Community health merger Doutta
Galla, Western Region Health
Centre and North Yarra Community
Health (2014)
In 2014 cohealth was launched,
completing the merger between
three Victorian health services: Doutta
Galla Community Health, Western
Region Health Centre and North Yarra
Community Health. The new entity
will serve one third of Melbournes
geographic area. For more information
see: www.cohealth.org.au

19

whwnews edition 2 2014

whw in the
news

Womens Health West

317-319 Barkly Street
Footscray 3011
phone
fax
email
website

womens health west equity and justice for women in the west

9689 9588

9689 3861

info@whwest.org.au

www.whwest.org.au