whw news
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EDITION 2 • 2010
equal pay RALLY p.9
WHW workers gather at the rally for equal pay on 10 June 2010
A word from the ceo
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elcome to the second edition of WHW News for 2010. This edition focuses on our priority area of mental wellbeing and social connectedness. While it is quite a mouthful, we wanted a title that reflected the importance of wellbeing and social connections to women’s ongoing mental health. You will find a number of articles in this edition that are specifically marked to underline our work in this area. As our Health Promotion Manager, Lynda Memery’s, article on page 4 relates, eight staff and board directors from WHW attended the Australian Women’s Health Conference in Tasmania in May. This inspiring and superbly organised conference reinforced the importance of women’s health services’ strong focus on the social determinants of health to reorient health services to the factors that cause and maintain women’s ill health. This is all the more important in the face of federal health reforms that focus on increasing access to general practitioners and hospital beds. As one conference paper outlined, women end up in hospital, or at the doctor, because of social conditions that include poverty, isolation, family violence, appalling Indigenous health, and so on. What is the point of having state of the art health services that simply patch women up and send them back to the conditions that caused their illness or injury in the first place? Our prevention efforts must go beyond obesity, cigarette smoking and heart disease, to tackle the ‘causes of the causes’ of ill health, as health promotion expert Sir Michael Marmot says. For example, cigarette smoking causes cancer – but what causes
inside:
Dr Robyn Gregory
smoking? Why is it that it is mostly poor and PHOTO Vicky disenfranchised people that continue to smoke despite our knowledge of its dangers? WHW, along with many other services, are continuing to advocate for a strong women’s health platform in the lead up to the state election – and are equally focused on advocating for primary prevention, gender and health equity in the federal health reform process. One of our health promotion workers, Erin Richardson, outlines the work being undertaken in the western region to prevent violence against women, on page 8. Julie Kun from the ASU explains the pay equity campaign on page 9 and outlines actions you can take to support the 2010 equal pay case to challenge the long-standing devaluing of ‘women’s work’ in the health and community services sector. You can also see photos of our staff at the recent rally – including health promotion worker Lucy Forwood in a fabulous red wig! On pages 10-11 health promotion worker, Sally Camilleri, challenges us to examine our own attitudes and behaviours that may contribute to racism, which in turn can cause a range of health problems including stress and depression, leading to heart problems, smoking or obesity. Jeanette Large, CEO of the Victorian Women’s Housing Association, points out the equal importance of long term, safe and affordable housing to women’s sense of health and wellbeing, confidence, and connections with family, friends and community. She advocates on page 6 for increased investment in social housing for women and their children. The importance of social connections to recovery from trauma is highlighted in a page 7 article by one of our children’s counsellors,
Continued p.2
women’s health west – equity and justice for women in the west
Young women, leadership and friendship p.12 The April 2010 program inspired seven young women to become leaders in their communities
Unmasking children’s feelings p.7 Children who have experienced family violence explore feelings and identity in our art therapy group
Healthy African Women p.14 Order your new brochure for African women available in Arabic, Amharic, Somali and Tigrigna
Continued from p.1 Rebecca, whose creative arts group for children who have experienced family violence provides a safe, fun and creative space for reducing isolation and enhancing positive social interactions. WHW were thrilled to see the Paid Parental Leave Bill passed by Federal Parliament on 17 June 2010, establishing Australia’s first national paid parental leave scheme. The scheme will operate from 1 January 2011 in addition to any existing paid parental leave entitlements, giving women a minimum of 18 weeks maternity leave paid at the federal minimum wage. The scheme is long overdue, with Australia and the US the only major developed economies not to have such a scheme. WHW will continue to work towards a range of pay equity measures for women (read more on page 9). As Nicola Harte, our Communications Coordinator, points out in the introduction to this edition, we continue to urge our members to advocate for women’s health, safety and wellbeing at a state and a federal level. She outlines some of the ways you might do your bit in the lead-up to the election. The Board of Directors of Women’s Health West join me in thanking our staff for their continued dedication, passion and sheer hard work in their efforts to make the region a better place for women in the west. ISSN # 1834-7096 Editor: Nicola Harte Newsletter Group: Lynda Memery, Jacky Tucker, Veronica Garcia, Nicola Harte Contributors to this edition: Anna Vu, Erin Richardson, Gainore Atkins, Jeanette Large, Julie Kun, Kirsten Campbell, Lara Polak, Linda Beilharz, Lynda Memery, Mishelle, Melissa, Teresia Mutisya, Nicola Harte, Rebecca, Reem Omarit, Robyn Gregory, Roslyn Beer, Sally Camilleri, Sarah Bella, Scout Kozakiewicz, Veronica Garcia Photographers: Gabriel Aleksandrs, Rebecca, Sally Camilleri, Scout Kozakiewicz, Vicky, Kirsten Campbell, Erin Slattery Illustrations: Isis & Pluto Design and layout: Susan Miller, millervision@ netspace.net.au Editorial Policy: Contributions from readers are welcome. Opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of Women’s Health West (WHW). All contributions are the responsibility of the individual authors. The final decision on inclusion lies with WHW and the editor. Content must be in keeping with WHW’s vision and goals. Short items are preferred. Email contributions to info@whwest.org.au and include your name, email address and phone number. WHW reserves the right to edit any contribution. Read this edition and archives of WHW News online at www.whwest.org.au/pubs/WHWnews.php
Mental wellbeing &
social connectedness Edition Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator
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omen’s Health West works within a feminist framework recognising that the conditions in which people live, work and play are shaped by political, social and economic forces that we must understand and take action on to achieve better outcomes for health, safety and wellbeing. This social model of health informs our understanding of the relationship between mental wellbeing and social connectedness. The Melbourne Charter1 defines social participation — or social connectedness — as ‘supportive relationships, involvement in group and community activity and networks’. The charter cites social participation as a protective factor for maintaining mental health and wellbeing.
The recommendations are broad ranging and include reducing the gender wage gap, re-shaping superannuation policy to accommodate women’s specific employment patterns, ensuring appropriate funding for the national plan of action to reduce violence against women, securing appropriate funding to support the proposed national strategy on body image and outlines women-specific provisions for transport, childcare, homelessness.
This newsletter focuses on the varied work that WHW is doing to promote mental wellbeing and social connectedness including rallying for pay equity, taking part in a leadership program, and examining racism and how it affects the women in the western region.
Women’s Health West strongly support this platform for the federal election. It’s an impressively clear and concise summary (only 6 pages!) and in the lead-up to the federal election, it’s vital reading to inform your important vote. For more information visit www.ywca.org.au/ policy-and-campaigns/womenspeak
Do your bit
As we outlined in our last newsletter women’s health services in Victoria have developed the 10 point plan for women’s health and Women’s Health West are continuing to advocate for members of parliament in the western region to adopt this as their women’s health platform in the lead-up the state election on 27 November 2010. You can find a copy of this on our website at http://www.whwest.org. au/docs/10ptplan2010-14.pdf
This year we will all go to the polls to elect state and federal representatives and our actions can make a real impact on women’s health, safety and wellbeing. Policy frameworks that appropriately respond to women’s diversity, strengths and life experiences have the power to significantly improve women’s living conditions and consequently their health. The Equality Rights Alliance (formerly ‘WomenSpeak’) is a non government network of 48 diverse women’s organisations and women’s advocates from across Australia that advocate for gender equality. The Alliance has 1 The Melbourne Charter is the outcome of a worldwide discussion that took place at From Margins to Mainstream: 5th World Conference on the Promotion of Mental Health and the Prevention of Mental and Behavioural Disorders, in Melbourne, Australia, September 2008.
Stories that describe our work in these areas are marked with this logo:
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Defining social connectedness ‘People who are socially isolated have between two and five times the risk of dying prematurely from all causes compared to those who maintain strong ties with family, friends and community.’ (Berkman & Glass 2000)
Edition 2 published: July 2010 Deadlinenews for edition 3: Monday 23 August 2010 whw EDITION 2 • 2010
collated a set of 17 federal election platform recommendations called Journey to Gender Equality that clearly outline areas government must commit to in order to improve women’s health in this country.
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Behind the scenes WHW Board of Directors PHOTOGRAPHER Erin Slattery
PHOTOGRAPHER Veronica Garcia
WHW Staff
Lara Polak
Teresia Mutisya
Gainore Atkins
BUSINESS MANAGER
FARREP COMMUNITY WORKER
I commenced my career in finance in the corporate world and stayed for 15 years. When I had a family I had a rethink about my priorities and decided to change direction so I studied welfare at Monash University, then worked as a correction officer for 8 years. I moved on from the Department of Justice and have worked in the not-for-profit sector for about 12 years straddling finance and program management. My current role of business manager for WHW allows me to use my expertise within a social framework that fits well with my personal philosophy.
The combination of studying public health/health promotion at Deakin University and working at Women’s Health West complements my passion to promote social justice among the most vulnerable and pass on knowledge that will empower them to take charge of their own health and wellbeing. This FARREP role is an excellent opportunity to participate in community development activities among multicultural women. I hope to see the little skills I bring to WHW grow to great heights not only in my career path but also in achieving the purpose of WHW as a whole. I love the team spirit I am experiencing already!
WOMEN’S HEALTH WEST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Melissa
Mishelle
COORDINATOR/PRACTITIONER, COUNSELLING TEAM
CHILDREN’S WORKER
My first social work job was at Hanover as a housing support worker. I’ve worked in housing, adoption and permanent care, mental health and my previous job was as a generalist counsellor and intake co-ordinator at Dianella Community Health. Although I was a generalist counsellor, nearly all of my clients had experienced family violence and/or trauma. I love to be involved in the healing process for women and I hope to bring new ideas, innovations and to promote the growth of the counselling team. I’m also very keen to advocate for children’s needs, as their voices are sometimes lost among everything that goes on for adults.
My first job in the sector was as a childcare worker at Odyssey House, a residential drug rehabilitation centre. More recently I was a support worker at Macauley Community Centre, a psychiatric disability residential rehabilitation centre for homeless women. I’ve done life skills training for people with acquired brain injuries and aged care home support, so working specifically with clients who’ve experience family violence is a relatively new experience and I’d really like to learn more about the sector through my work at WHW. Outside of work my passion is to convince my local council to plant fruit instead of ornamental trees on nature strips as a means of combating childhood obesity and encouraging healthy eating.
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As a director of Women’s Health West I am extremely proud of the work that WHW is doing to build the capacity of mental health service providers to implement the Power On model. The peer education model was developed after consultation over twelve weeks with fifty women who have experienced mental illness and is being implemented in other services around Victoria and in Tasmania. One of the women involved commented that, ‘Power On made me feel important. It made me feel like I mattered’. I was particularly pleased by this comment because one of WHW’s guiding principles is to support women to take control over their decisions and their lives. Throughout the time that I have been associated with WHW I have been impressed by these programs that improve the lives of women, not only in the west, but also state-wide, including advocacy for homeless women, victims of family violence and successfully fighting repressive legislation affecting the reproductive rights of women here in Victoria. I, and my colleagues on the board, only play a small part. It is the many workers at WHW, guided by CEO Dr Robyn Gregory, whose dedication makes a daily difference to the lives of the women they represent. There is no such thing as a ‘job’ at WHW; it is a passion and the results show in the challenges met and the victories won.
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
PHOTOS Sally Camilleri
Australian Women’s Health Conference, 18-21 May 2010, Hobart, Tasmania
Lynda Memery, Manager Health Promotion, Research and Development
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ix hundred delegates from across Australia attended the 6th Australian Women’s Health Conference in Tasmania between 18 and 21 May. Presented by the Australian Women’s Health Network, the conference comprised more than 170 papers and workshops on topics as diverse as women’s mental health, gender in policy and practice, sexual and reproductive health, violence prevention, feminist health research methods, and much more. Women’s Health West had eight representatives at the conference and 60 delegates attended a workshop led by Sally Camilleri and Erin Richardson on our Women’s Power Cards.
Two standout themes that were addressed in considerable depth included Indigenous women’s health, and preventing violence against women. The quality and sheer number of papers on these topics reflect progressive developments in the area of women’s health and wellbeing. The question of what the national health reforms will mean for women’s health services and the women’s health agenda was not covered in-depth at the conference, but was flagged as the next significant challenge.
PHOTO Lynda Memery
With the increased emphasis on a medicalised view of women’s health in some jurisdictions, the conference placed a firm emphasis on inequity and injustice as the core drivers of women’s ill health. Fran Baum, former Commissioner on the
Commission on the Social Determinants of Health, discussed the necessity of generating demand for health policy and service delivery that is fundamentally built upon a social model of health. This, she said, was required to achieve a reorientation of health services and to secure the funding required to tackle the underlying drivers of ill-health and the growing gap in population health outcomes.
L-R Front row: Lindy Corbett, Sally Camilleri, Nicola Harte, Erin Richardson Back row: Robyn Gregory, His Excellency The Hon Peter Underwood, Governor of Tasmania, Mrs Underwood, Karen Passey, Georgie Hill
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Gwen Egg invited delegates to contribute to her fibre art
The intense seriousness of the conference sessions was occasionally lightened by performances by women artists. Performers such as Sista Act acknowledged Indigenous people who have paved the way for future generations with their inspirational song ‘Trail Blazers’; and comedian Nelly Thomas, whose hilarious reference to several prominent anti-feminists as ‘The Holy Trinity of Backlash’, had the conference delegates in stitches. Exhibitions of women’s art and craftwork, such as the Knitting Room Project, were held in several nearby galleries. This exhibition, initiated and led by residents of a local aged care home, comprised a magnificent knitted and crocheted life-size walk-through display reminiscent of a 1950s home. The conference proved to be an invaluable opportunity to learn from and share insights with community women, researchers, government representatives and women’s health practitioners. At the opening plenary, Dr Gwen Gray, Convenor of the Australian Women’s Health Network, noted ‘It is often said that feminism is dead; that we are in a post-feminist era. It is clear that feminism is well and alive in the Australian women’s health movement’. Papers from the conference will soon be available on the Australian Women’s Health Network website: www.awhn.org.au
Women in the region
pat
Being a carer, I can really relate 100 per cent, because I am living it as well.
Words and pictures by Scout Kozakiewicz
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at has a dream. She would like to organise a local Sydenham support group for carers of people with mental illness. Her personal experiences from childhood to the present inform her hopes and give rise to the generous and compassionate woman that is Pat. She approaches her goal one step at a time, weaving each experience into the fabric of her life, not a moment of heartache discarded nor an instance of joy. It is all part of the learning process that Pat embraces. ‘I feel that all my life experiences have brought me to where I am and I can actually put some of that knowledge to use in the community, which I find really rewarding.’ Pat was officially recognised as a carer in 2001 and has been at home full-time, juggling finances to get by, since then. In 2005, through her association with Carers Victoria, she became involved in Power On for Carers, a Women’s Health West initiative. In her role as a peer educator, Pat shares her story with other carers,
facilitating discussions and offering practical solutions. ‘That’s why I got the job. Being a carer, I can really relate 100 per cent, because I am living it as well.’ Carers can slip under the radar, often so completely focussed on their dependent they neglect their own health and their own happiness. ‘As a carer, you think you don’t have rights, that the person you are caring for deserves everything they ask for. You put pressure on yourself. We teach women that if you stand up for yourself, gradually they will accept it.’ The strategies are positive, affirmative, action techniques with an emphasis on practical solutions. The pressure of full-time caring can take its toll and Pat experienced a breakdown herself. She fully understands the need for compassionate, experienced support services, ‘When I was in that black hole myself, I called up a crisis line… but I wasn’t taken seriously. I ended up staying with a friend for three months. It helped knowing someone was there, keeping me company, not telling me,
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“Pull yourself together Pat”. There was a lot of learning going on, but it took me a while to think, “Yeah, I do want to make a go of life and not be where I am. I used my inner strength.”’ Pat has been incredibly pro-active, seeking advice and organisations that can help both her and her child. Finding Carers Victoria helped Pat balance her needs while caring for her daughter. By attending support groups and other activities she realised how important it is to maintain your own social networks, your own life and your own wellbeing. Pat is passionate about helping others. The feedback she gets through her facilitation work constantly inspires her with new ideas. ‘We offer different strategies, we do many activities that are fun and the carers realise, “I can light the candles and soak in the bath and do something for me. I deserve to be taken care of as well and reach out for help” and know they don’t have to do it all.’
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Women, Housing & Health ‘Having the house for me and my children was an important step to a whole lot of positive changes in my life.’
Jeanette Large, CEO, Victorian Women’s Housing Association (VWHA)
‘Before I … was lucky enough to live in the property, I really had so many problems for so many years, especially with finding a safe home to live in that I could afford. Ever since I have been in the property my life has changed completely and only gotten better and given me the strength to keep going.’ ‘In 2003 I left a violent and controlling husband, I had three children, no money, nowhere to live, no job, no family support. I had never felt so alone. VWHA provided me with a home and my support worker helped enrol me in a TAFE course. I now have a future for my family.’
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his feedback from women in Victorian Women’s Housing Association (VWHA) houses fuels the passion of the staff and board of VWHA to continually pursue our mission to provide long term, safe and affordable rental housing for women and their children. The stories demonstrate the link between housing and women’s self esteem, confidence, and strengthened relationships with family, friends and others in their community. Everyone has the right to housing as part of their right to a standard of living adequate for health and wellbeing. The United Nations Centre for Human Settlements states that housing is more than bricks and mortar, it needs to be adequate, affordable appropriate and secure; VWHA stress that housing also needs to be safe. An absence of long term, secure and affordable housing drives women and children back into unsafe and violent relationships or into transient and unsafe housing. This has a significant impact on the health of women and children with intimate partner violence being the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 – 44. Further, children and young people who witness intimate partner violence are at increased risk of mental health, behavioural and learning difficulties (VicHealth 2002). Living in an environment of
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continuing and cumulative abuse leads to serious mental health problems for women and children. Unfortunately there is inadequate appropriate and affordable private rental housing to meet this need. In 2006 the National Housing Supply Council reported a shortage of private rental stock for low income households in Australia with 211,000 additional properties still required. While the obvious solution may be to increase private rental availability, in reality the variable cost and quality of these dwellings is associated with poorer health outcomes. Private rental dwellers are most vulnerable to homelessness not only because rents are not fixed but also because ‘reasonable cost’ private rental is currently too costly for low income earners. Moving already vulnerable and disadvantaged households into this type of housing tenure will have a significant impact on the incomes and health of tenants. It is the government’s responsibility to make provisions for the shelter of low income households. Social housing policy cannot be dependent on market-driven private rental housing to provide safe and affordable dwellings for vulnerable and disadvantaged households. Instead, governments must invest in social housing models that increase public – or social – housing stock.
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SSocial housing agencies such as VWHA need significantly increased investment n tto redress the affordable housing sshortage for low income households. Gender inequity results in women G making up the majority of low income households. For instance, women head 87 percent of one-parent families, with 61 percent of these families relying on government pensions and allowances as their major source of income. Women make up only 33 percent of the full time paid work force and, even when working full time, earn only 81 percent of men’s income. Children often accompany women in need of housing and the number of accompanying children for clients seeking SAAP services has increased from 50,800 in 2001–2 to 69,100 in 2006–07. Close to half of all accompanying children were aged 4 years and under and, in 2006–7, accommodation was their most common unmet need. If we are to tackle the affordable housing shortage and the health problems that result from these shortages we need continued and increased investment in social housing for women and their children. Then, we could make sure all women felt like they had a future! WHW support the need for a range of accessible and affordable housing options for women that must include a mix of responses, including social housing and public rental housing options.
Street Count 2010 Nicola Harte, Communications Coordinator On 2 June this year Merryn and Isabelle, both WHW family violence workers, volunteered to walk through an assigned area of Melbourne’s CBD and count the number of people sleeping rough as part of the City of Melbourne 2010 Street Count. The count took place between 4.30am and 8.30am with the aim of collecting accurate and up-todate information about the extent of homelessness in the city. Of the 101 people counted, 72 were male, 14 female and 15 were unable to be identified because of being covered and asleep. In comparison, 75 people were counted last year and 112 people in 2008. For more information see http:// www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/streetcount
ILLUSTRATION Isis&Pluto
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Rebecca, Children’s Counsellor
The therapeutic creative arts group is for children between 8 – 12 years who have experienced family violence. The group runs for eight sessions and mothers are invited to attend four of the sessions with their th children. For two years Women’s Health n West has successfully run the groups in collaboration with partnering organisations.
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he therapeutic group aims to provide a safe, fun and creative space for children to explore the impact family violence has had on them. Recovery from trauma is enhanced through creative arts such as painting, music, puppetry, storytelling and dance. Sessions cover themes such as self esteem, nurturing, relationships, communication, feelings and emotions. The group aims to empower children and help them to make sense of their experience. The creative arts group provides a space for expressing and learning about emotions in a safe way. Children who have experienced family violence often have a negative sense of self and self worth; they live in shame, secrecy and isolation. Through the connections made with other participants, the group aims to reduce isolation and enhance positive social interactions and build self esteem and a positive sense of self. Mothers attend four of the eight sessions to enhance the mother/ child relationship, which is often undermined and compromised by their experience of family violence. Part of this work involves breaking
Special boxes focusing on nurturing self
patterns of secrecy and strengthening the mother/child relationship through mothers witnessing and sharing in their child’s recovery from family violence. Children are encouraged to take ownership of their group by choosing a name for themselves and the current group came up with ‘fly bird’. Children are involved in developing group agreements and naming the consequences if agreements are not respected. Within each session children learn from and support each other, and are acknowledged as the ‘experts’ in their own lives, honouring their experiences, knowledge and skills.
Group banner ‘fly bird’ created by children and mothers
Body outlines focus on feelings and emotion
As a co-facilitator I am honoured to bear witness to the children’s bravery and courage. I am in awe of their ability to hold onto their humour, sense of curiosity and playfulness, and their unwavering capacity to love and trust. WHW are hoping to expand our children’s program over the coming years and will be exploring options for funding. Our next group is planned for term four. Please contact Rebecca or Stephanie at WHW on 9689 9588 for more details.
Masks focus on id identity tit and d ffeelings li
Self identity poster – one boy now sees himself as ‘the new king of the world’!
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Preventing Violence Together: Violence Against Women: What does it really mean?’ A key recommendation emerging from this gathering was the development of a comprehensive, integrated strategy for the prevention of violence against women in the western region. We knew that many organisations in our region had a strong interest in preventing violence against women, and many were involved in discrete projects. A clearly coordinated, integrated approach to maximise our reach and the impact of our efforts was seen by all as the way forward.
Erin Richardson, Health Promotion Worker
The Journey Ruby’s story From the dark valley of despair and sadness, the journey to greener pastures begins. The trees represent my three children in their journey to a happy peaceful life. Eventually they will reach beyond my inner circle. The rainbow and the climb depict our life as a chameleon. We change, adopt and evolve to survive, improve and continue along the chosen path of improvement. The butterfly is ME, endeavouring to reach that peaceful haven. My wings encircle my children and life to protect and nurture along the way. Through change we evolve. Same, but different Stronger, better, free
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reventing violence against women is now well and truly on the mainstream health agenda. While women’s health services – including Women’s Health West – have been working at both ends of the spectrum for decades, violence against women is now legitimately recognised across the board as a key cause of women’s ill health, disability, and morbidity. In fact, as VicHealth reported in their 2004 study, for women aged between 18 and 44 in Victoria, gender based violence is the leading cause of ill-health – greater than smoking, road trauma, and obesity. It is also preventable. So, while primary prevention of violence against women – that is, challenging the factors that cause violence against women in the first place, such as gender inequality – has long been a focus of our work here at Women’s Health West, building the capacity of other organisations in our region to prioritise preventing violence against women in their own work has also been key. To this end, in 2006 WHW and the primary care partnerships (PCPs) in the region came together for a conference called ‘Health Promotion and Preventing
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Four years on, the western region prevention of violence against women working group – which includes representatives from our PCPs as well as local councils and community health organisations – are getting to the business end of the developing Preventing Violence Together: The Western Region Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women. Drawing on both the Healthy Community, Healthy Lives framework developed by Health West, as well as A Right to Respect: Victoria’s Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women 2010 – 2020, our strategy aims to build on existing good practice to create communities, cultures and organisations in the western region that are non-violent, non-discriminatory, gender equitable, and promote respectful relationships. To reach our goal, we have identified a range of actions across seven key areas, including community leadership; skills, attitudes and social norms; and partnerships and structures. Critically, our action areas are geared towards engendering the necessary political will within organisations to ensure that preventing violence against women is embedded as core business - everybody’s business rather than nobody’s business. As we know, nothing less than a holistic, all-of-organisation approach will be required if we are to effectively work toward eliminating the underlying causes of violence against women. The working group is creating a strategy that is ambitious, but achievable, with a launch date scheduled for November. Watch this space for further updates! For further enquiries, please contact Erin Richardson at WHW on 9689 9588 or email info@whwest.org.au
ARTIST Ruby, Women’s Support Group, Djerriwarrh Community Health Services
The Western Region Plan to Prevent Violence Against Women
PHOTOS Vicky
PHOTO Gabriel Aleksandrs
Colleen Hartland (MP) at the rally with Robyn Gregory and staff from WHW
Thousands Of Community Sector Workers
Rally For Equal Pay Julie Kun, Australian Services Union Organiser
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n 10 June 2010 thousands of community sector workers in Melbourne and more around the country braved the cold to tell the state and federal governments that they deserve and are willing to continue the fight for equal pay. Workers at the rally committed to keep on marching and fighting until the state government commits to fund in full any pay increase that Fair Work Australia may award them as a result of the ASU’s community sector equal pay case. Pay inequity lingers despite breakthroughs made throughout the 1970s regarding women’s rights in the workplace. For that reason there was a great turn out of workers from services that provide support to women, including many workers from Women’s Health West. Workers in these services know all too well that gender inequality creates barriers that keep women in poverty and vulnerable to violence. Nevenka Galic from Good Shepherd Youth and Family Service, Valerie House Women’s Refuge and an ASU delegate said ‘I am proud to be at the rally with all my colleagues and I am proud to work at an organisation that supported workers to attend the rally. We need a sustainable sector that is equipped to provide complex support to women. We can’t do that until workers… achieve equal pay and have an incentive to stay in the sector. We need to fight for equal pay and we need to do it now. No excuses, no next time round. It is now or never!’ Lisa Darmanin ASU Assistant Secretary made a number of salient points about the pay inequity confronting community sector workers, including:
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Community sector workers are paid up to 37 per cent less than those doing the same job in the public service and hospitals
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Women will retire with less than half the amount of savings in superannuation accounts than men
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Women have to work an average of 63 days more a year to earn the same income as men
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An ‘equal pay for work of equal value’ test case was established in 1972, pay equity still hasn’t been realised…38 years on!
WHW workers with our banner
many workplaces today. They result in a persistent wage gap that remains stuck at 17 per cent in 2010, which equates to $1 million less over a lifetime.
So what is pay equity?
Equal Pay Case 2010
Unequal pay or ‘pay inequity’ can be measured in two ways. First, as a direct comparison between a male and female employee doing the same work but earning a different salary, including penalty rates, overtime and bonuses.
The Australian Services Union (ASU) has launched a test case with Fair Work Australia to challenge the lower pay among community sector workers — a female-dominated sector. The case will be the first to test the new equal pay provisions of the Fair Work Act and unions hope it will help establish an equal pay standard for other industries.
Second, it is measured by the difference in pay between industry sectors with a greater value placed on some types of work compared with others. Traditionally, industries with a majority of female workers have attracted lower pay rates than male-dominated industries. This difference in ‘value’ is partly historical, emanating from a time when women were not regarded as ‘breadwinners’ nor welcome in most parts of the workforce. ‘Women’s work’ was — and still is — a term used to downplay the value of women’s skills. Male-dominated industries have also traditionally been more industrially organised, with better pay and conditions hard won through decades of negotiation, disputes and legal rulings. These historic differences and attitudes are still reflected in the pay packets of women and the practices of
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On the back of the historic test case, the ASU have initiated the Pay Up campaign (www.payup.org.au) urging Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard to properly fund the not-forprofit community sector, leading to a substantial rise in pay for workers who are too often left behind.
Things you can do:
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Go to the Pay Up campaign website (www.payup.org.au) and send a virtual ‘kiss’ to Julia Gillard
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Follow the campaign on popular websites including Facebook and Twitter
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Become an ASU member and support the union with your union fees and your voice
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Racism & racial discrimination
Sally Camilleri, Health Promotion Worker
Melbourne’s western metropolitan region is one of Australia’s most culturally and linguistically diverse. More than one hundred languages are spoken here, many by recently-arrived communities seeking refuge on humanitarian visas. A large proportion are female-headed sole parent families, whose existing health problems are compounded by their experiences of loss and trauma. Sadly, while people come to Australia to escape trauma, they can face racist attitudes that further complicate the process of recovery.
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he Webster dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Those who act on these beliefs – for instance by ignoring job applications from those with surnames that link them with a particular ethnic background, or closing a bus door on someone who wears a hijab – are engaging in racial discrimination. This is particularly damaging when people in positions of authority use their influence to systematically discriminate against others, leading to entrenched oppression and disadvantage, and cementing ongoing racism. Women’s Health West’s commitment to advocate against and expose racism is long standing and includes sharing the experiences of women in the west in newsletter articles, as well as dedicating staff hours through projects to combat racism. In the second edition 2003
WHW News the article ‘No Space for Racism’ included the experience of a young Serbian woman who described being called a ‘wog’ and being physically harassed at school: ‘We come to Australia to escape war and this is what we have to face?’ In the third edition of that year, women described the fear they and their communities lived with here in Melbourne during the Iraq war. ‘It’s getting even harder since September 11. Now they have got the “Be Alert, Not Alarmed” campaign and, to some people, everyone who is Muslim is a terrorist.’ We continue our commitment to give voice to women’s experiences in a new project that explores how racism affects women in the western region of Melbourne, and uses that information to advocate against it.
Exploring the project VicHealth have developed a framework to reduce race-based discrimination and support diversity in Victoria,
called ‘Building on our strengths’. The framework examines key factors that contribute to race-based discrimination, considering each in turn from a range of perspectives - the individual, organisational, community and society. Women’s Health West have used this framework to inform our current work. We will facilitate staff workshops where we plan to map how racism affects women in the west, share stories that can illuminate what is happening, and consider how Women’s Health West is positioned to affect change in the region.
Talking with women affected by racism As the project worker, my first step was to talk to women about their experiences. A woman from Zimbabwe told of being perplexed as the seat next to her was left vacant in a very crowded train. A woman from Eritrea
Selected events in Australia’s racial policy history 1901
1966
1967
1975
Immigration Restriction Act of Australia became White Australia Policy. This policy barred the entry of any non-white races into Australia.
PM Harold Holt signed the United Nations International Accord for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Mounting public support and pressure led to a referendum.
Referendum to amend the Constitution to allow Indigenous Australians to vote.
The Whitlam government’s Racial Discrimination Act made discrimination on the basis of race illegal
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
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is really hard to talk about tried to understand why she had to represent her entire community, religion and way of life when she expressed an opinion. And a young Ethiopian girl was frustrated in her attempts to go to university as her teachers insisted she should not aim higher than TAFE although her marks were quite good. Thinking about these experiences I recalled academic theories describing anthropology, racist histories of colonisation, exoticism and the objectification of the ‘other’. But most of all, I was struck by the women’s stories themselves and thought just how difficult it would be to thrive in the face of such unwelcoming attitudes.
Talking to women from ‘the dominant culture’ Someone asked me about my work at a recent party; I happily talked generally about health promotion and more specifically about working with women from all over the world; then I explained my work in this project. Three welleducated anglo women, posited right in the middle of our dominant culture, seemed comfortable as they shared their thoughts about conflict between communities, about violence in the streets and about cultural difference.
However, once I steered the conversation towards structural racism or the ways in which dominant cultures make people feel unwelcome, different or less than ‘us’, the women became guarded. I’ve observed similar resistance when exploring structural discrimination with service providers. If these powerful women feel threatened by the possibility of structural racism, how do disenfranchised anglos interpret media that supports the exclusion of asylum seekers by portraying them as a terrorist threat? What does a disenfranchised anglo think when commentators depict foreign ownership of homes as a threat to ‘our way of life’? If you constantly hear these messages, does it seem normal to blame the woman in the hijab when you are excluded from home ownership or employment?
Where to start – some preliminary thoughts and questions These observations at the party and with service providers highlight the sense that racism and racial discrimination are difficult to talk about beyond a tokenistic chat. How can we challenge racist attitudes and behaviours if we can’t even talk about the part we play from within the dominant culture?
I am a first generation European migrant, but would describe myself as belonging to ‘the dominant culture’. While searching for something in the supermarket recently I hesitated before asking a young African man who was filling the shelves. I actually thought, ‘He won’t know where I can find eucalyptus oil’. Shame on me! He knew exactly where it was. As I observed myself, I realised that the place to start taking action on racism is by examining my own thinking. When do I attribute particular traits or capacities to people from a particular ethnic background? And how might I then make assumptions about who will know more, or be better skilled, or, at its most extreme, be of greater worth?
Where to next? As an organisation we will reflect on racist attitudes and behaviours and examine our resistance to challenging our own behaviours and attitudes. We will also continue to explore how racism affects women in the west, so keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved and share your story of racial discrimination and/or hope.
1997
2005
2008
2009
The ‘Bringing Them Home’ report was tabled in Parliament outlining a litany of physical and sexual abuse of Aborigines resulting from ill-conceived public policies.
A series of racially motivated riots and mob violence originating in Cronulla, New South Wales
PM Rudd says sorry to the stolen generation in Parliament
Increased media at tention following nearly a dozen at tacks on Indian students in Melbourne and other parts of Australia led to local and international protests
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whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
LOA participants with panel members
Kirsten Campbell, Health Promotion Worker
2010
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or five days in April seven young women from diverse backgrounds gathered at Melton Youth Services (MYS) to participate in Lead On Again 2010. This year WHW partnered with MYS and Djerriwarrh Health Services to deliver Lead On Again in an area that is gradually diversifying as new migrants and refugees settle there. For the first time and following feedback from previous Lead On Again participants, we decided to include a mix of CALD and non-CALD young women in an effort to break down cultural barriers and facilitate understanding between cultures. ‘The young women connected really well, it was great to see young women from all different backgrounds share their stories and aspire to be leaders in their local community.’ Andrea Orlinski, Djerriwarrh Health Services The leadership program included sessions on body image, conflict resolution, planning an event, public speaking and making an egg fly, as participants learned diverse skills that support a confident leader. Panel members inspired women with their stories, and guest presentations on human rights and sexual health were another highlight. Delivering the program with other workers presented a great chance for WHW to develop the capacity of other agencies to run Lead On Again in the future.
PHOTOS Kirsten Campbell
‘Lead On Again was a fantastic opportunity for young people to bond and learn about other people’s cultures. It was a rewarding experience not only for the young people but also for facilitators. I was impressed by the young people’s passion and determination to become leaders in their own community and their willingness to give up their holiday period to increase their leadership skills. I was even more surprised that they wanted to be a part of Lead On Again next year!’ Candice Presnilo, Melton Youth Services Following the program, the participants were enthusiastic about taking up leadership opportunities at MYS to help deal with social concerns in their community. Lead On Again will run in 2011 in Melton and Footscray.
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
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FROM Central Victoria TO THE North Pole Women’s Health West congratulate Linda Beilharz, fellow women’s health advocate, adventurer and CEO of Women’s Health Loddon Mallee, on her amazing achievement as the first Australian woman to reach both the North and the South Poles! Linda Beilharz, CEO Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
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his year two Australians — Linda Beilharz and Rob Rigato — together with their Canadian guide Sarah McNair Landry, travelled 780 kilometres (as the crow flies) across the frozen Arctic Ocean. On 25 April, after 55 days, they reached the North Pole. This journey made Linda the first Australian woman to have completed such a trip to both the South and North Poles and, understandably, she’s pretty chuffed about that achievement! A journey on the Arctic Ocean is only possible during the short window of opportunity between the first moment the sun breaks the dark arctic winter and the point at which the resulting temperature rise causes the ice to break up, making travel difficult and aircraft pick up impossible. Linda and the team made it to the North Pole only hours before the last possible pick up. They’d pushed very hard in the final weeks, ‘rolling the clock’ to increase their travelling hours. For a while they travelled 28 to 30 hour days and towards the very end they changed the cycle to 15 hour days but with only one or two hours of sleep between ‘days’. They slept for only five hours in the last four days. Linda says ‘this was only possible because by then there was 24 hours
of sunlight so we didn’t really know when nighttime was. If you’d asked me beforehand whether I could survive on so little sleep I would have said “No way! I need at least eight hours sleep a night.” Yet we did it. We were exhausted when we finally reached the pole.’ The Arctic Ocean is made up of ice that is moved around by the wind and ocean currents. These currents push ice up onto the Canadian coast, which is where the team started their trek. So while there was plenty of solid ice, that ice broke up and piled against itself to create ice ridges that were frequently up to two stories tall. The team hauled their heavily-laden sleds over the ridges and made their way through the vast patches of broken ice. As a result, in the early days of the trip they managed to travel only five or so kilometres a day. Conditions improved as the team moved away from the coast and towards the end — where ice ridges were fewer and lower — they were able to travel 25 kilometres at a time. It was cold. Temperatures began at minus 38C and averaged between minus 25C and minus 30C. While the team’s major preoccupation was staying warm, they did manage to be comfortable in multiple layers of thermal and windproof
clothing. At night stoves warmed the tent enough to have sponge baths and dry out damp clothing. While clever zips meant that going to the toilet was not quite as exposing as it could have been, Linda explained that ‘the challenge was to undo zips on four layers of clothing while wearing great big mitts and not really being able to see what you were doing. It was pretty important not to get caught out with an urgent need to go — which really wasn’t possible.’ The Arctic Ocean provided multiple challenges with harsh wind, lack of visibility, some very deep snow, broken and moving ice, ice ridges and open water leads1. The team were able to monitor their position on the GPS in the tent at night but it could be quite depressing as it mostly indicated that they were drifting backwards. Linda said that this trip was the hardest she has done, but that working well together as a team and staying focussed on what needed to be achieved was very important for maintaining positive morale. Linda believes that being the first and only Australian woman to have done such a trip is not due to her superhuman ability — she describes herself as a ‘very ordinary Aussie woman’ — rather, it’s largely due to the fact that she took the step to put an idea or a dream into action. ‘I’ve realised that many women don’t do that, but I hope that my example can inspire women to take that step. If I can get to the North Pole, with the enormous challenge that it was, then others can take steps in the areas they are passionate about.’ For further information you can check out www.icecapjourneys.com.au 1 Leads are stretches of open water within fields of sea ice.
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whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
FARREP
publications Update The Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) aims to prevent the occurrence of female genital mutilation (FGM) and increase the quality of care and access to sexual al and reproductive health services for women from communities affected by FGM. This occurs through h community education for women and professionall development for service providers. For more information about FARREP at Women’s Health org. West, call 9689 9588 or visit http://www.whwest.org. au/community/african.php Reem Omarit, FARREP Community Worker
Healthy African Women WHW FARREP have updated our Healthy African Women brochure, a resource for African women. The resource is a health information brochure produced by WHW in 2001 for African women living in the west. Since publication, WHW has received positive feedback from women in the community and the brochure was evaluated as part of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society’s research report, Access to HIV Prevention Information Among Selected CALD Communities in Victoria. Healthy African Women was commended for its use of clear, simple language and for its distinctive design that appealed to African women who participated in the research focus groups. This year, WHW produced an updated version of the brochure that retains the reader-friendly approach and displays the unique colours and themes that were characteristic of the first version. As part of the updating process, WHW held focus group discussions with African women living in the west to gain their perspectives on how appropriate the resource is to their needs. Service providers who evaluated the first edition also reviewed this new brochure. The brochure contains key health messages and contact details for services in the west and is available in English as well as Amharic, Arabic, Somali and Tigrinya. It is also available online at http://www.whwest.org.au/community/healthy.php
Mama and Nunu (Edition 2) Mama and Nunu is an information resource for health professionals and service providers who work with African women — including those affected by female genital mutilation (FGM) — during pregnancy and birth. It includes information on FGM, care during pregnancy and birth, and a series of fact sheets on various topics including antenatal care, postnatal care and sexual and reproductive health.
Healthy African Women is available in English as well as Amharic, Arabic, Somali and Tigrinya
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
The WHW FARREP team has updated this valuable resource with the latest information and in response to feedback received on last year’s edition. This edition of Mama and Nunu is now available online! To view Mama and Nunu (Edition 2) go to http://www.whwest.org.au/community/MN2.php
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Art & Mental Wellbeing Roslyn Beer, Women’s Health Promotion Worker
Bendigo Bank Charity Challenge VU students raise money for WHW Veronica Garcia, Information and Administration Worker
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ictoria University students from Victoria University’s Footscray Park campus participated in the Bendigo Bank Charity Challenge as part of their professional development unit. The purpose of the project was not only to raise funds for charity, but also to allow students to experience the benefits of volunteer work within the community. Bendigo Bank contributed $250 and a mentor to each group and students chose to raise money for a charity in the western region of Melbourne. The Jigsaw team raised $915.00 for Women’s Health West by holding a successful sausage sizzle and raffle at Victoria University.
At the Well by Roslyn Beer. Blake Prize* Director’s Cut, 2009 *Oldest prize in Australia dedicated to spirituality, religion and cultural diversity
A
s a woman and an artist I face many challenges that affect my health, but I find that practising art greatly enhances my wellbeing. Although I have struggled to sell my art work at times, I think the act of exhibiting is an enormous success that flows into other parts of my life. If I valued money and fame perhaps I would consider my life as an artist to be a failure, but the fact that people come to view the work is itself a great boost to my confidence. I believe that these subtle improvements to my happiness and joie de vivre (joy of life) have enabled me to get employment. Through painting I have found a way of healing the effects of negative experiences: art elevates my mood and can be a good distraction in times of stress. For me, the act of creating a painting is similar to meditation. It can stop me from obsessive thinking and broaden my perspective and this, in turn, reinvigorates my life. When I’m working
I can feel unrestricted by time, I can feel free to express myself as my true self. Then there’s the freedom of being able to make mistakes and accept that if I loosen my control, sometimes a happy accident can be a wonderful addition to my artwork. Early in my painting life I spilt ink over a painting and after cursing myself for not ‘getting it perfect’, I discovered that I could use this ‘mistake’ to make my artwork better. The realisation that I can let go and not have such tight control has extended to my life in general, adding to my sense of wellbeing. I also find that when I explore the lives and work of famous artists, I am inspired to make more of my life. So what are you waiting for? ‘The journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step.’ (Lao Tsu, Chinese Taoist Philosopher, c. 600 B.C.)
Women’s Health West thank the students of VU and Bendigo Bank for their hard work, energy and initiative.
Funds for WHW Lara Polak, Business Manager
Women’s Health West would like to extend our thanks for the following financial contributions from 26 February to 24 May 2010. Donations $200 from Beta Sigma Phi Victoria $3000 from court ordered funds Donations to Women’s Health West are tax deductible. To find out more about making a donation please call 03 9689 9588 or visit www.whwest.org.au/docs/ donate.pdf
Happy painting.
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whw news EDITION 2 • 2010 whwnews
Roller Derby Saved My Soul
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into half hour endurance skates and hundreds of push-ups and sit-ups. She had a slight Mum-like quality to her, but she was mostly drill sergeant. The roller girls were also not what I was expecting. They came in all shapes and sizes, and there’s a derby position for each and every one of them. There were Amazon women like Berzerker. She’s well over 6 foot and can take out the opposition with a swing of her hips. There were tiny elfin women like Red Menace, who has a shock of electric red hair and the ability to skate so fast she becomes a blur. On that first day I was expecting to be self conscious because of my body shape, but the thing that caused me the most embarrassment was my inability to skate a lap without coughing up a lung.
I’ve stopped caring about the way my body looks and started loving it for the physical feats it can achieve.
Sarah Bella, AKA Bella DuBois, Toxic Avengers
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aybe it was when I found myself booty blocking my housemates as they passed me in the hallway. Or maybe it was when I stopped using my real name and started going by my derby alias, Bella DuBois, in every day life. But somehow roller derby went from being my new weekend hobby to the thing that consumes every waking moment. I got into derby because I was looking for a way to lose weight. I needed something more interesting than going to the gym, and I’d spent at least ten years thinking I was fat and hating my body. All I knew was that roller derby was a team sport played on old fashioned roller skates, and that the kind of women that played it were not
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
your usual sporty types - they were pierced and tattooed alternative girls in short shorts and fishnets. I got in touch with the Victorian Roller Derby League and went along to a training session. I turned up with a pair of old skates I could barely stand up in, and no idea of what I was getting myself into. If I hadn’t already told everyone I knew that I was going to be a roller girl, I probably would have given up after my first training session. Roller derby requires an incredible amount of physical fitness. New recruits train for almost a year before they get to play in a ‘bout’. There were no formalities when I arrived at the rink. Betty Bamalam, my coach for the session, threw me head first
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This athleticism hasn’t always been the main focus of the sport. The original roller derby that was popular in the 1970s was more of a spectacle sport with staged fighting, in the vein of wrestling. The modern reincarnation of derby in Texas in 2001 has much more focus on sportsmanship. It’s still theatrical and campy, but these days it’s a grass roots, amateur sport run by women, for women. The best way I’ve heard the game described is ‘like rugby on skates without a ball’. Within a few months, I was thinking about skating constantly. My fellow derby girls have become like a second family. I relish the theatrical side of derby - dressing up in tights and smearing war paint across my face. It took months for my body to show physical signs of the fitness I was developing, but I quite quickly started overcoming my hatred for my body regardless. Instead of thinking of myself as fat and lazy, I now appreciate not only the amazing things I can do on skates, but they way I can run for the train without losing my breath. I’ve stopped caring about the way my body looks and started loving it for the physical feats it can achieve. The physical and mental empowerment and confidence that derby gives women speaks for itself. It gives me an outlet to express myself that I would never normally have in my every day life. For more information about the Victorian Roller Derby League go to www.victorianrollerderby.com
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Membership is free. To apply, fill in this form and mail to Women’s Health West: 317–319 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011
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Sexual and reproductive health in the west
A plan for action Anna Vu, Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator
S
exual and reproductive health is often left off the agenda, from government strategies and priority setting, to school curricula. In many cases where it is given attention, it is restricted to isolated areas such as sexually transmissible infections or unplanned pregnancy. Recognising the lack of attention to sexual and reproductive health and its broad determinants such as sexuality, disability, cultural background, experience of violence and age, Women’s Health West (WHW) applauded the HealthWest partnership’s decision in June 2009 to place this as a health promotion priority for the west, and welcomed the opportunity to lead the partnership’s work in this area. As WHW’s sexual and reproductive health promotion worker, this task came to me.
As this is the first time that sexual and reproductive health has been prioritised in the west, the story so far is largely about forming partnerships between agencies. WHW, HealthWest and ISIS Primary Care formed an initial working group to come up with a plan for the partnership’s work in sexual and reproductive health for the 2010-12 period. The plan that we came up with
was basically to create a plan. How were we going to do this? We decided to map current services and programs, as well as analyse regional sexual and reproductive health needs. This would help us get an idea of where things were at before we could decide where we wanted to head. Our next step was to invite other agencies to be involved in the process, thereby creating more partnerships and more opportunities for joint work. The call was answered by Djerriwarrh Health Services, Western Region Health Centre, the Braybrook/Maidstone Youth Partnership and Maribyrnong City Council. Over the next few months, the main job was to contact a mix of local and state-wide agencies to find out what they were doing in the area of sexual and reproductive health, and to search for data and literature to give us a better idea of the key sexual and reproductive health questions in the west. After many hours of talking with huge numbers of people I realised that even though there is little activity in the area of partnerships in sexual and reproductive health, there was an enormous amount of work going on in various forms. I also noticed that people were keen to work together in the future. Even in conversations with
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some people whose agencies didn’t have any relevant programs or services, they showed a great deal of interest in what we were doing. I was encouraged as I began to see the work as something that could really add to partnerships and improve the sexual and reproductive health of women in the western region. In March 2010, we held a western region sexual and reproductive health forum to present the findings of our mapping and needs analysis, and to canvas opinions about actions to improve regional sexual and reproductive health. Again, I was struck by how many people had obviously done a lot of thinking in the area and was excited that we had the opportunity to get them together to talk about what the future might look like. Based on the outcomes of the mapping and needs analysis and the forum, the working group is now developing an action plan for 2010-12. We think that this is an exciting time to get a diverse range of people involved in conversations and action. As this is the first piece of work of its kind in the region, there are many possibilities for the future and all will depend on the commitment of agencies to share goals. Stay tuned for updates as the work progresses!
whw news EDITION 2 • 2010
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his popular handy wallet card has been reviewed and provides the most up to date information about family violence, crisis is support and referral services in the western region as well as some state-wide services. If you would like to receive FREE copies of these new wallet cards please fill out the order form below, or contact us on (03) 9689 9588, or email our Information Worker — veronica@whwest.org.au NEW! Updated life without family violence cards available in Amharic and English
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EVENTS & Notices ‘Hope in the Face of Uncertainty’ Women Living with Advanced Cancer Forum Saturday 11 September 2010 BreaCan Resource Centre, Ground Floor, Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, 210 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne A one day forum for women living with secondary cancer. For more information and bookings, phone 1300 781 500.
Newly-arrived Women’s Health Information Sessions Women’s Only Swimming 6:30 – 8:30pm Every second Sunday Held at Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre, an opportunity for women to swim with other women and children (boys to the age of 6 years). Phone: 03 9688 0298 www.wrhc.com.au
A six week course for newlyarrived women that includes topics such as sexual and reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth, immunisation, parenting and relationships, family violence prevention and social support. For more information contact Cath Shimmin, Women’s Health Nurse, Western Region Health Centre, on (03) 8398 4144
Radical Campaigns that changed Australia
Sunrise Women with Disabilities Group The Laverton Sunrise Women’s Group and the Werribee Women’s Group are two groups for women with disabilities that meet in the outer west of Melbourne. Groups run from 10.30am-1.30pm on the first (Laverton) and the last (Werribee) Friday of each month. Morning tea is provided and attendant care is available for all activities. Women’s Health West is currently able to provide limited assistance with transport to and from Sunrise Women’s Group activities where necessary. All women with disabilities in the outer west are welcome to attend, celebrate life and meet like-minded women. For more information ring Lindy Corbett at Women’s Health West on Wednesday or Friday on 9689 9588 or email lindy@whwest.org.au
From Seeds of Dissent: Celebrating Radical Australia Radical dates sourced by Iain McIntyre, 3CR 855AM, Melbourne’s activist radio station. 9 August 20010
International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
21 September 2010
International Day of Peace
10 October 2010
World Mental Health Day
17 October 2010
Anti-Poverty Week 17 – 23 October
1 August 1990
Melbourne – 500 men rally against sexual assault
3 August 1970
Melbourne – hundreds rally for divorce reform
3 August 1980
Sydney – 2000 teachers and students march, demanding an increase in the funding of English classes for migrants.
8 August 1972
Sydney – Gay Liberation holds a public protest over the use of aversion therapy in the psychiatric ‘treatment’ of gays and lesbians
11 August 1887
The Brisbane Women’s Union is formed
25 August 1970
750 000 stop work for 3 hours over proposed Federal cuts to social services
30 August 1971
Melbourne – Members of Women’s Liberation March against sexism in the union movement
15 September 1973
Sydney – Police attack 200 gay and lesbian protesters attempting to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Martin Plaza
20 September 1917
Melbourne – Women smash windows at 20 businesses know for repressing workers rights
23 September 1943
First women in the Australian parliament Dame Enid Lyons becomes a member of the House of Representatives for the United Australia Party, and the Australian Labour Party’s Dorothy Tangney takes a seat in the Senate representing WA
29 September 1995
Nurses hold stop-work protests over health cuts
3 October 1927
Aboriginal activists petition the NSW Government, demanding an end to the removal of Indigenous children
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whw news EDITION 2 • 2010 whwnews
Women’s Health West in the News
WHW Health Promotion Worker Worker, Lucy Forwood received a fantastic thankyou card from students and staff at Hoppers Crossing at the end of the Girls Talk – Guys Talk whole school approach to sexuality education.
Women’s Health West 317-319 Barkly Street Footscray 3011 PHONE FAX EMAIL
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Williamstown, Altona, Laverton Star, 8 June 2010
women’s health west – equity and justice for women in the west