Celebrating Victorian Women’s Health in Women’s Hands

This year, Victoria celebrates 40 years of women’s led women’s health services.

Over the past four decades, we’ve seen abortion legalised, sexual harassment outlawed, an Australia-first Royal Commission into Family Violence, and Victoria’s first Gender Equality Strategy. Victorian women’s health services have been there every step of the way, championing women’s health, safety and wellbeing.

To recognise this milestone, Women’s Health West is proud to participate in the 40 Years Strong social media campaign celebrating the contribution of women’s led women’s health services in Victoria.

The campaign will run from 13-16 March and is coordinated by Gender Equity Victoria – the Victorian peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women – in collaboration with member organisations like Women’s Health West. 40 Years Strong recognises the history and expertise of Victorian women’s led women’s health services in addressing gender equity, women’s sexual and reproductive health and the prevention of violence against women.

The campaign follows International Women’s Day ​​(March 8), a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s theme is #PressForProgress, which calls on collective action to accelerate gender parity.

“The 40 Years Strong campaign is an opportunity to bring Victorian women’s health services together to collaborate, celebrate and drive future change,” said Kristine Olaris, Convenor of Gender Equity Victoria.

Campaign hashtag: #40YearsStrong

For media enquiries: Kelly Ventress, Communications Manager – Women’s Health West via comms@whwest.org.au

About Gender Equity Victoria

Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) is the Victorian peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women.

Gender Equity Victoria works with organisations across Victoria to advance a shared vision of gender equality, health, and freedom from violence for every woman and girl, in every community across Victoria.

www.genvic.org.au

Women’s Health West’s annual general meeting was held on Wednesday 29 November 2017 at Footscray Community Arts Centre.

The event was a great success, and saw our members and community gather to hear Women’s Health West’s highlights of 2016-17, and to vote on important constitutional changes, which were all passed.

One of these changes reflected our commitment to being inclusive of all genders. Members passed a change to our constitution to include an additional definition being inserted as follows: ‘The words “woman” or “women” are inclusive of females, or people who identify as female’. A small but important change.

Following official AGM business, we moved onto the annual conversation element, which featured:

• Carly Findlay, writer, speaker and activist
• Jax Jacki Brown, disability and LGBTI activist
• Leah Van Poppel, manager of the Youth Disability Advocacy Service
• Keran Howe, executive director of Women with Disabilities Victoria, as chair.

The speakers discussed the topic ‘why be happy when you could be normal? Perspectives on feminism and disability’.

A full video of the AGM conversation can be viewed here (with captions), or catch the highlights below.