Women's Health Association of Victoria (WHAV) Proposal for Statewide Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy

This proposal puts forward the need for a Victorian Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy. There is potential to exercise leadership on this issue by drawing together existing initiatives and responding where gaps exist in sexual and reproductive health to provide a strong framework for action. This represents a major opportunity for the Baillieu Government to act decisively and draw on the immense capacity of the sector to develop a Victorian Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy.

The Women’s Health Association of Victoria strongly advocates for the development and implementation of a statewide sexual and reproductive health strategy that is informed by current research and consultations to achieve the following:

• Strengthen health promotion initiatives that work to redress the social determinants of sexual and reproductive health, particularly for the population groups outlined on page 4.
• Provide an integrated approach to sexual and reproductive health policy, health promotion, service and program delivery.
• Ensure sexual and reproductive health rights are protected and upheld.

There currently exist clear opportunities to eliminate barriers to, and promote, sexual and reproductive health. The simple but tangible responses presented here will enable the sector to respond more effectively to sexual and reproductive health and create better outcomes for all Victorians. Read the complete document here.

WHIN's Contribution to the review of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities

On April 19^th of this year Attorney-General Robert Clark announced a review of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter). The review is to be undertaken by a Parliamentary Committee – the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee (SARC).

The Charter has been a highly effective advocacy tool that WHIN has employed in order to assist in upholding women’s rights. Using the Charter in this way has allowed us to support agencies in our region to adequately respond to women experiencing disadvantage.

WHIN would like to see that the Charter be maintained and more specifically, retain the function of requiring public authorities (such as governments, police and public hospitals) to consider human rights when making laws, developing policies or providing services.

WHIN would also like to see the Charter strengthened and improved to protect the rights outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). Incorporating CEDAW into the Charter and hence recognizing that women’s civil and political rights are inherently linked to their economic and social development would mean that the Charter could better address women’s health and economic security, violence against women, and the systemic discrimination women face.

To ensure that these views are registered WHIN contributed to the Charter review in the following ways:

• WHIN wrote a detailed letter of endorsement for the submission written by PILCH Homeless Person’s Legal Clinic. Their submission can be found here and you can view WHIN’s endorsement letter here.
• WHIN also supported a submission coordinated by Western Region Health Centre and Women’s Health West. The submission was supported by a number of health organisations from the North and West Metropolitan Regions of Melbourne including Banyule Community Health, Djerriwarrh Health Services, Dianella Community Health, HealthWest Primary Care Partnership, Nillumbik Community Health Service, North Yarra Community Health, Sunbury Community Health Centre. A copy of this submission can be found here.

The closing date for submissions to the Charter review has been extended to Friday the 1^st of July. For further information please go to this section of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission website.

10 Point Plan for Victorian Women’s Health 2010–2014

Raising our voices for women’s health

WHIN is one of 15 Victorian women’s health services that have developed a platform for action on women’s health through to 2014. This 10 Point Plan builds on the work of Women’s Health Matters: From Policy to Practice – Setting the Agenda for Victorian Women’s Health 2006–2010.

To add your organisation’s name as an endorsee, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

See who else has endorsed the plan.

Safe, Well and Connected: Victorian Local Government Action Plan for Women’s Health 2008–2012

This plan outlines actions for local councils to improve women's health in their community, including the development of a women's health and wellbeing strategy, involvement in violence against women prevention strategies and support of family-friendly workplace practices.

Check to see if your local Councillors signed on to Safe, Well and Connected during the 2008 elections.

Submission to the Victorian Government's Climate Change Green Paper

Climate change is the most recent priority area of WHIN’s work to remove barriers to women accessing good health and wellbeing. Our submission to the Victorian Government's Climate Change Green Paper discusses a number of factors that increase women's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, such as gendered roles, unequal access to wealth, and power and privilege.

Submission to Moreland City Council: Municipal Public Health Plan 2009/2012–2009

WHIN’s submission calls for the inclusion of women as a priority population in the goals and action plans of the Municipal Public Health Plan. In particular, we recommend the inclusion of older women, lesbians, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in action plans; inclusion of gender disaggregated data for each health goal; and continued focus on reducing family violence.

Submission to the new National Women’s Health Policy

WHIN welcomed the opportunity to make a submission to the National Women's Health Policy and commends the Federal Government on its leadership and commitment to the development of new policy directions designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Australian women.

View the Women’s Health Association of Victoria’s submission.

View the Australian Women's Health Network’s submission.

Submission on Paid Parental Leave to the Productivity Commission

WHIN made a submission to the 2008 Productivity Commission’s inquiry into paid parental leave. The inquiry was a response to a request by the Federal Government to look into the economic and social costs and benefits of paid maternity, paternity and parental leave. The Commission published its report on paid parental leave on 12 May 2009.