Earlier this year, we introduced the newly formed Evidence Unit to the organsiation. Sitting within our Strategy, Advocacy and Community Engagement team, the unit aims to promote the voices of our clients and communities through evidence gathering and advocacy work.
(more…)Women’s Health West, in partnership with the City of Melbourne, is offering face-to-face support to the community.
(more…)Women’s Health West mourns the passing of Peter Crowley, a key partner in our Preventing Violence Together Partnership up until his retirement from Moonee Valley City Council last year. We celebrate his life and his ongoing commitment as an ally in equity and justice for women and communities across the west. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues. Vale Peter.
We welcome the Victorian Government’s announcement to increase funding to the women’s health sector to respond to this public health crisis, and continue our work around mental health and wellbeing, and the prevention of family violence.
This funding is crucial at this time, as it ensures that people experiencing family violence or hardship can continue to access support services at this difficult time.
Minister for Prevention of Family Violence, Gabrielle Williams, announced that the 12 women’s health services, including Women’s Health West, will each receive $250 000 over the next two years to continue our work to prevent family violence.
We are also pleased to be receiving a share of $600,000 to support new mental health and wellbeing initiatives. This pandemic presents significant risk factors for women’s mental health and wellbeing, including stress, anxiety and depression caused by isolation, financial insecurity and balancing work with increased care responsibilities.
This funding allow will enable Women’s Health West to continue to keep women and children in our community safe, support our work to prevent family violence before it occurs, as well as expand our mental health and wellbeing activities.
See the full media release here.
The participants of Women’s Health West’s ‘Lead On Again’ program held their International Women’s day event ‘Hear Our Stories’ last month.
The participants, who are all young women with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, shared their stories and experiences of seeking employment in Australia.
It was a really moving event as the young women described the racism, discrimination and many barriers they’ve encountered while looking for work in Australia.
Some of the young women spoke of the ease in which they were able to secure employment in their home countries – as dental assistants, or a manager of an entire dental clinic – but this experience was dismissed by employers in Australia. Others spoke of the effects workplace racism and how this can really shake someone’s self-confidence, particularly as a young woman of colour.
The young women had everyone in the audience laughing one moment, and holding back tears the next. The audience was encouraged to reflect on the ways we can all be good allies, and shared their pledge to support young women of colour to pursue employment in Australia.
A real highlight of the night was the fashion show! The young women each wore their cultural or tradition clothing, and explained the cultural significance and symbolism of their attire. For some, it was the first time they had had the opportunity to wear their cultural dress since arriving in Australia.
Lead On Again is a leadership program for young, multicultural women in the West. We run the program each year, and the International Women’s day event is a significant part of their leadership journey, which the young women plan and deliver themselves.
More information about Lead on Again.
Women's Health West acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work, the people of the Kulin Nation, and we pay our respects to Elders and community members past and present. We express solidarity with the ongoing struggle for land rights, self-determination, sovereignty and the recognition of past injustices. We express our hope for reconciliation and justice.
Women's Health West acknowledges the support of a number of funding bodies including:
