About us
Our Mission
Shoalhaven Women's Health Centre empowers women to take control of their health and wellbeing through the provision of accessible, holistic health services within a caring, feminist environment.
Philosophy
Shoalhaven Women's Health Centre operates from a feminist perspective that views health within a social context. This view recognises that:
- health is determined by a broad range of social, environmental, economic and biological factors;
- differences in health status and health objectives are linked to gender, age, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, location and environment, racism, sex-role stereotyping, gender inequality and discrimination, ageism, sexuality and sexual preference;
- health promotion, disease prevention, equity of access to appropriate and affordable services and strengthening the primary health care system are necessary, along with high quality illness treatment services;
- information, consultation and community development are important elements of the health process.
A brief history
Shoalhaven Women's Health Centre was an initiative of the Shoalhaven Women's Resource Group (Rosa Refuge), a collective of women who established the Nowra Women's and Children's Refuge. These women realised the need for accessible local Family Planning services. A public meeting was held from which the Shoalhaven Women's Health Collective was formed and the service commenced in 1983 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 collective. Simultaneously, submissions were written requesting ongoing funding for a Women's Health Centre and we were granted Department of Health funding in 1984. Shoalhaven Women's Health Centre has continually evolved from that point in time to the present. Local women continue to use us as a first point of contact for information on a wide variety of issues including health, medical, legal, holistic, alternative therapies and general information.
Our goals 2010-2013
- Build a strong and dynamic organisation capable of providing a range of sustainable and effective programs which address women's health and wellbeing
- Provide a range of holistic services, education and information to empower women and improve their health and wellbeing, and build community capacity
- Work through strong partnerships and cross sector collaborations -at local, state, national and global levels -to have a positive influence on public opinion, politics, services and practices relating to women
- Improve access to health services and information for all women
Committee of Women
The Centre is managed by a diverse team of local Shoalhaven women with a wide range of expertise, skills and talents. Please contact the Centre if you would like to find out more about becoming involved in governance at the Centre and find out becoming a Centre member (direct link).
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