About the Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre ?

Shoalhaven Women’s Health Centre Inc is a non profit incorporated Community Association.

 

SWHC is a community Managed organisation. The Management team are drawn from local women including members of other local agencies and services in the Shoalhaven.


On a day to day basis SWHC is managed by staff and the service Manager.

All staff are employed on a permanent part time basis. SWHC is a multidisciplinary integrated health service with a preventative health care focus.

 

SWHC holistic philosophy is based in the belief that illness is not always based in physical causes but environmental, cultural, social, and economic issues impact on health and wellbeing.

The Centre recognises that all women have a right to be treated with dignity and respect in an environment which provides for privacy, confidentiality, informed consent and safety.

 
 
How We Began

 

In 1983

- Our service began, in rented premises in Nowra with donations of money from local women. The Family Planning Clinic was funded by Doctors working on Medicare and staffed by volunteers from the Health Centre Collective.

In 1984

- We were finally granted Department of Health funding.

In 1986

- We had employed a counsellor, two administration workers, a child care worker, a receptionist, two doctors, a herbalist and a masseuse. We had an up and running Mother’s Support Group and had become well known as a drop in and information centre for local women.