You may have seen the recent announcement that the Victorian State Budget has additional funding of $19.4 million for Victoria’s 12 women’s health services over the next two years. This is the first funding increase we’ve seen for our health promotion and primary prevention work in over 30 years.
The budget announcement followed several months of coordinated advocacy and lobbying by the network of Victorian women’s health services, led by peak body Gender Equity Victoria. The campaign, called #SickofSmallChange, collated and shared the evidence on how the pandemic has disproportionately impacted women: economically, and via increased family violence, mental ill-health, and sexual and reproductive health issues. The campaign combined a media event and release, letter-writing and presentations to MPs, and social media campaigns.
Helen Riseborough, WHIN’s CEO said: “WHIN is thrilled and relieved to receive the Victorian government’s announcement of additional funding for women’s health services. This increase in funding will allow us to reach many more communities in Melbourne’s north with our vital health, safety and wellbeing programs. We applaud the State Government for producing Victoria’s first gender-responsive budget. Victorian women were hit hardest by the pandemic, and critical funding for gender equity, family violence, financial literacy and women’s health will contribute to ensuring a recovery that is equitable.”
Read our joint statement with Gender Equity Victoria and other women’s health services here.
Women’s Health Services across Victoria have issued a response condemning the imminent overturning of Roe v Wade, expressing solidarity with women and people with a uterus in the United States and calling upon the state and federal governments throughout Australia to expand the provision of affordable abortion through adequate funding and prioritisation of women’s sexual and reproductive health.
As an Incorporated Association, WHIN is a membership-based organisation. Membership is free and available to individuals and organisations. To find out more about becoming a member and to access our online application form, visit our membership page.
Join WHIN today and support your local women’s health service.
WHIN is delighted to be a key partner in the Action for Gender Equality Partnership (Gender Equity Victoria Partnership) which is one of the Panel of Providers approved to support the implementation of the Victorian Gender Equality Act 2020. The Panel is comprised of 24 gender equality experts that will offer tailored support to organisations to support them to meet their obligations under the Act which comes into effect on March 31.
Prescribed organisations will be required to conduct gender impact assessments, collect gendered workplace data and develop and report on a gender equality action plan every four years. WHIN is approved to support these organisations in areas such as gender impact assessment (GIA) and the development and implementation of strategies to improve gender equality in the workplace.
We are very much looking forward to supporting our partners and community in realising the benefits of gender equality. The implementation of the Gender Equality Act is a unique opportunity for us to work with stakeholders on our shared commitment to create gender equal communities that reduce discrimination and violence towards against women. You can read more about the Victorian Gender Equality Act 2020 here.
For more information about the support that WHIN can provide your workplace to meet its obligations under the Victorian Gender Equality Act 2020 email info@whin.org.au ‘Attention PVAW Team’.
