Identifying the Hidden Disaster: The First Australian Conference and Natural Disasters and Family Violence with international keynote speakers

This Australia-first conference was held in Melbourne on Friday, 9 March 2012 and opened by the Deputy Commissioner of Victorian Police, Tim Cartwright. Keynote speakers were Elaine Enarson, leading International researcher on gender and disaster; Lois Herbert, manager of the Battered Women's Refuge in Christchurch; and Megan Sety from the Australian Domestic and FV Clearinghouse. A highlight of the conference was the first hand and heartrending accounts from two women whose relationships suffered in the aftermath of Black Saturday.

The conference provided a perfect forum for the launch of the first Australian research to examine the impact on relationships after a natural disaster, 'The Way He Tells It', from WHGNE. Issues raised in this research were considered by 12 key players in disaster management in a 'Hypothetical'. The day concluded with five Action Planning Workshops to give delegates the opportunity to discuss the implications of the conference learnings and identify achievable actions.

For more information about this conference, as well as access to conference proceedings, click here.

WHIN Celebrates International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated around the world on March 8 to honour women’s actions and achievements.

On 19 March 1911 over a million European women united in calling for the right of women to vote, work and hold public office. The rally was motivated by a protest held in New York in 1908, organised by the Women’s Social and Political Union to rebel against poor working conditions and child labour. The women wore the colours of green (hope and new life), violet (dignity and self respect) and white (purity).

In 1910 an international conference of women voted to celebrate IWD around the world each year on March 8.

Without gender equality, women will continue to struggle to fully participate in the economic, social and political life of their countries. WHIN’s mission is to advocate, enable, mediate and embody so that all women in Melbourne’s northern region have voice, choice and power in all aspects of their health and wellbeing.

Celebration and Next Steps

On February 1 2012, Fair Work Australia awarded social and community services (SACS) workers pay increases of between 19 and 41 per cent. This is a historic decision marking the first equal pay case won at a federal level in Australia since 1972.

This historic victory for SACS workers and women more broadly, is down to the tireless efforts of the Australian Services Union and all the supporters of the campaign who signed petitions, attended rallies, lobbied their members of parliament and spoke about the importance of the case with others.

WHIN has been a long-time supporter of the campaign, recognising that a successful outcome means a significant step forward in narrowing the persistent gender pay gap and improving women’s economic participation.

The Federal Government has given their commitment to fully fund the social and community service programs in their areas of responsibility and honour Fair Work Australia’s decision. However, there is no such commitment from the Victorian or Tasmanian State Governments.

It is now time to call for the Victorian government to fully fund their share of the pay increase without cutting community services that support the state’s most vulnerable. If you believe this is important, you can show your support by signing this online petition.

WHIN Leads the Way...

Over 60 people from healthcare organisations, local government and more attended the Health Promotion and Sustainability Forum held at Sustainability Victoria on 8 November, 2011. The keynote speakers outlined the links between healthcare, climate change and sustainability more broadly. They were followed by a panel of practitioners who discussed the learnings from their project.

The Health Promotion and Sustainability Report, launched at this forum features WHIN as one of the organisations leading the way! Our Chairperson, Kristine Olaris, was one of the panellists.

The full report and an executive summary are available online.

Gender Analysis Tool

WHIN has developed the Gender Analysis Tool to assist organisations and policy, program and health planners to produce work that is 'gender sensitive'. That is, to produce policies and services which acknowledge that women and men have different experiences, needs and access to wealth, resources and decision-making opportunities. This tool helps to draw attention to these differences, recognising that specific initiatives and resources may be required to rectify what is often a marginalised position for women.

The tool was primarily developed for use within local government and health promotion sectors, however it does have applicability beyond these areas.

The Gender Analysis Tool contains a brief rationale for why gender should be considered in planning, policy and service development; a 'Gender Analysis Planning Tool' which inclues a list of gender analysis prompts to consider at each step of a policy and project development process; and an 'Organisational Gender Checklist' to assist organisations in measuring and improving their approach to gender sensitive practice.

Women's Health In the North has released its 2nd Data Book on Women in Melbourne's North. This extensive e-book - presented in two volumes - is essential for anyone planning programs or services for women in Banyule, Darebin, Hume, Moreland, Yarra, Whittlesea and Nillumbik.

Use the sex-disaggregated data to:

• access current information on local women
• guide gender-specific health and wellbeing planning
• improve health outcomes
• begin to address the structural inequalities that limit women's lives

Women's in Melbourne's North - A Data Book - Volume 1

Women's in Melbourne's North - A Data Book - Volume 2

Building a Respectful Community provides a regional framework for the primary prevention of violence against women.  It promotes a systematic regional approach to effect change and to build a respectful community where women are not subject to violence. 

The strategy outlines primary prevention actions that can be undertaken by organisations in the northern metropolitan region, individually or in partnership.  The document provides a context and evidence base for this work as well as an Action Plan which outlines a range of activities that can be undertaken.

To read this document click here.

Become a Member!

Join Women’s Health In the North (WHIN) and you will become part of a dynamic community of women dedicated to supporting women’s voice, choice and power in all aspects of their health and wellbeing.

Sign up as a member today via our automated membership registration.

Current WHIN E-NEWS

Women’s Health In the North keeps members, affiliates, supporters and the community up-to-date with our news via our monthly WHIN E-NEWS. View this month's edition.