WHW News (Ed2, 2009) by Women's Health West

Edition 1 • 2009

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International Women’s Day p.4

inside:

Unlocking 21 Years of Women’s Stories at our International Women’s Day event

A word from the ceo

elcome to our equity and social justice edition of WHW News – the first edition for 2009. Equity and social justice have been at the forefront of our thoughts as we plan for and reflect on 2009, being the 21st anniversary of Women’s Health West. At our opening in 1988, the Chairperson, Maureen Dawson-Smith, stated, “Statistically, women are more likely than men to be poor, unemployed, victims of domestic violence, to be single parents, to work in low status jobs, to have poor working conditions and to work the double shifts of paid work outside of the home and unpaid work within it”. In the 21 years since Maureen’s speech, we have seen greater community recognition of the importance of equality for women – and actions to support this, such as the new family violence legislation (p.8), which recognises the gendered nature of violence against women. Sadly the statistics that Maureen spoke about remain true today, largely because the structural conditions that cause and maintain women’s inequity remain unchanged. This is why equity and social justice is a stated priority of Women’s Health West. We have maintained our passion for working to improve the gender and structural inequalities that limit the lives of women in the west and hope the stories in this edition inspire you too.

PHOTO Georgia Metaxas

Human rights abuse in the west p.10

Dr Robyn Gregory

Women’s Health West staff and board were shocked by the ferocity of the Victorian bushfires in February. Our receptionist, Poppy, coordinated donations from our concerned staff, quickly raising $500 for the appeal. We have been impressed by the swift Department of Human Services response – particularly our own North West regional office – coordinating efforts across the region. Heartened by the strength and generosity of spirit in the community, we wish everyone well in their recovery. This community spirit was also evident at Women’s Health West’s International Women’s Day celebration. Staff and board members met with colleagues from the western region for a day of food, laughter and sharing of stories that will be compiled into a book celebrating the history of Women’s Health West, to be launched at our Annual General Meeting. I was moved and inspired to hear the stories of the women that helped establish this service and look forward to hearing more throughout the year. This year our Family Violence Service has developed resources that should prove useful to women, including a multi-lingual poster (p.18) that clearly states that violence is unacceptable in any culture. Jacky Tucker, our Manager of Family Violence Services, also

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WHW interviews Amie Batalibasi about her moving documentary on outworkers in the west of Melbourne

Another victory for reproductive rights p.16

Assisted Reproductive Treatment Bill: proof that grassroots, women-led campaigning really does work!

p.18 Violence against women is unacceptable in any culture Order posters for your workplace and do your bit to prevent family violence

women’s health west – active, effective and leading the region in advancing women’s health, safety and wellbeing

There are many other fantastic projects outlined in the newsletter, including the financial literacy project coordinated by Sally Camilleri. We are very excited by this work as it responds to an area that Women’s Health West has long identified as important. I would like, once again, to thank the staff of Women’s Health West for their continual hard work and commitment to women in the west. I also congratulate Lisa Field, who was re-elected as Chair of Women’s Health West, Georgie Hill re-elected as Deputy Chair and Karen Passey re-elected as Treasurer. I look forward to continuing to work with our dynamic and hardworking staff and board of directors. And finally, please circle 25 November on your calendar. This is the date for our 21st birthday party (and brief AGM) – where we promise there will be dancing! ISSN # 1834-7096 Editor: Nicola Harte Newsletter Group: Katherine Koesasi, Cath Mayes, Jacky Tucker, Veronica Garcia, Nicola Harte. Contributors to this edition: Batsi, Fabien, Felicity Marlowe, Jacky Tucker, Joy Free, Katherine Koesasi, Kirsten Campbell, Lauren Eagle, Luise, Maureen Smith, Megan Bumpstead, Nicola Harte, Pat Chalmers, Reem Omarit, Robyn Gregory, Sally Camilleri, Sarah Marlowe, Scout Kozakiewicz, Veronica Garcia, Vincci Law Photographers: Georgia Metaxas, Veronica Garcia, Nicola Harte. Design and layout: Susan Miller, millervision@netspace.net.au Editorial Policy: Contributions from readers are welcome, please include your name, address and phone number so that we can contact you. Short items are preferred. 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 mission statement. WHW reserves the right to edit any contribution.

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Based on WHW Organisational Health Promotion Plan 2006-2009

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Felicity and Sarah Marlowe outline another terrific victory for reproductive rights in Victoria (p.16) as Women’s Health West plan to respond to the National Human Rights Consultation due on 15 June, to ensure that we protect those rights from planned attacks (see www.whwest.org.au for further details).

Equity & Social Justice Edition ic

updated us on the Federal Government’s response to homelessness (p.6).

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This edition is jam packed with articles to do with social justice and equity, and while all of our work is underpinned by this ethos, articles that specifically outline work in this area are identified with this stamp.

hy does creating a more just and equitable society improve an individual woman’s health? And why does it improve women’s health collectively? It’s because those things that determine social justice and equity – like access to resources, equal pay for equal work, and freedom from violence and discrimination – also have a significant impact on determining women’s health. Increasing equity in the western suburbs will, therefore, improve all women’s health in the west of Melbourne. What do we do at Women’s Health West (WHW) to create a more just and equitable society? We engage in research to provide insight into the ‘lived realities’ of women in our region such as a data book (p14) that provides a comprehensive gender-specific profile of the health, safety and wellbeing of women living in the western region. This information can be used to assist WHW to advocate for a more just and equitable society by outlining the needs of women in our local area, to determine gaps and develop appropriate program and service responses. We work to increase access to individual and community resources – economic, physical and psychosocial – as they are critical to health and wellbeing. These include access to work and meaningful engagement, education and training, adequate housing, health services, public transport, social cohesion and support to escape situations of domestic violence. Populations who do not have access to these sorts of resources suffer significant health inequities (Keleher and Armstrong, 2006: 71).

With the right support, women can use power to make a difference for their communities in a way that promotes equality, equity and empowerment, and can redesign political agendas (Bennett and Aird, 2003). This is not simply about supporting women to attain positions of power, but training and sustaining participation, supporting the representation of diverse populations and encouraging increased participation in community leadership generally. Finally, violence against women is a symptom of a larger problem; namely, women’s inequality and social, physical and economic powerlessness relative to men. The more unequal and powerless, the more vulnerable women (and men) are to violence. As well as providing comprehensive support to women experiencing violence, WHW aim to publicly identify and redress the cause of violence, by directing resources towards prevention. REFERENCES Bennett, L. and Aird, A., 2003, Strengthening Communities through Women’s Participation – key learnings from a Victorian women in local government project, at http://www.vlga.org.au Keleher, H. and Armstrong, R., 2006, Evidence-based mental health promotion resource, Report for the Department of Human Services and VicHealth, Melbourne.

What is social justice? It’s the idea that all human beings are of equal worth, deserve to be treated decently and to have a fair share of the community’s wealth.

Read this edition and archives of WHW News online at www.whwest.org.au/pubs/WHWnews.php

Dr Carmen Lawrence, Trilogy of Conversations about Social Justice (23/09/02)

Edition 1 published: April 2009 Deadline for Edition 2: 9 June 2009 Email contributions to info@whwest.org.au

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We see participation in a range of activities as not only central to individuals’ health and wellbeing – to their sense that their lives are fulfilling and worthwhile – but also strongly linked to equity and social justice. This is because the opportunity to participate in activities is determined by what is available to you.

Behind the scenes

Maureen Smith

Vincci Law

REGIONAL INTEGRATION COORDINATOR

Family Violence Project Worker

Maureen has spent ten years working within the family violence service system starting in Murray Mallee Community Legal Service in Mildura where she helped to set up the Intervention Order Support Scheme. She contributed to the consultation process, discussion papers and advocated for family violence law reform and was the financial counsellor at Mallee Family Care. Maureen then coordinated the Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, providing services to communities in three states.

Vincci studied criminology at the University of Melbourne before coming to WHW. Her post here is a clear continuation of her passion for justice and women’s wellbeing given that it follows an internship at Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Services. She hopes that her completion of the client feedback report (see page 7 of this newsletter) and the Brimbank after-hours service report will contribute to WHW reaching more women in need.

After a stint as a family violence worker in an Adelaide refuge she realised that, when it comes to family violence, Victoria might not have it right, but is further ahead than South Australia! She ran back to Victoria at the first chance to work as a Family Violence Outreach worker and hopes to contribute to a better integrated service system by giving the region a voice.

An active woman with varied interests outside of work, Vincci practiced Kendo (Japanese sword fighting) for the past four years, but lately sleeping has become her favourite hobby.

Staff achievements Congratulations to Kirsten Campbell, health promotion worker, for completing her Masters of Public Health at Monash University, and to Reem Omarit, FARREP worker, for completing her Honours degree in Biomedical Science at Victoria University.

Fabien Family Violence Outreach Worker

Fabien’s interest in social justice can be traced back to her first job was as a little girl reading to the vision impaired people at the Mafficking Home for the Blind. Since then she has worked at London’s Westminster Hospital, WIRE and Parents Anon and spent many years as a foster carer. Fabien dreams that her job would become obsolete. That perpetrators were placed in alternative accommodation and women and their children provided enough support and protection to ‘stay put’ among their familiar surroundings, friends, family and support networks. Sadly, she says, the reality is that one’s hopes and dreams are not always met! Her interests include sustainable and communal living projects, her pets (chooks, cats, dog, miniature Irish donkeys) and an assortment of two-legged humanoids.

Meg Bumpstead

Strategic planning The strategic plan sets the forward direction for Women’s Health West’s (WHW) work and approach for 20092012. This project will enable WHW to develop a dynamic and flexible plan that best reflects our strategic intentions. The board has committed to a process that enables the contribution of our communities of interest, including staff and board, in line with the values of WHW. We began that process at our International Women’s Day celebration, Key to the Future: Unlocking 21 Years of Women’s Stories with a workshop that asked partipants to create snapshots of the past, present and future. In this way we reflected on the excitement in 1987 of our successful funding bid and discussed the hopes that women had at that time of creating an organisation for women, by women. We examined the social and political influences of the present day on our work in 2009 and then projected ourselves to the end of this strategic planning phase and imagined what differences might be possible in 2012. The Future Directions workshop was excellent preparation for the strategic planning day that followed. Representatives from state and local government, women’s and community health and academics from both health promotion and family violence sectors generously gave their time to discuss our shared work and ways in which we could improve or respond more effectively to changes in the women’s health environment. This an exciting time for our organisation. A time to reflect on our outstanding achievements; and a time to work in partnership with women and a range of organisations, to ensure we continue to meet the social, emotional and physical health needs of women in our communities now and into the future.

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PHOTOGRAPHER Georgia Metaxas

WHW Board PhotographerS Veronica Garcia, Nicola Harte

WHW Staff

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unlocking 21 years of women’s stories

Our 2009 International Women’s Day Celebration Nicola Harte Communications Coordinator

Women enthusiastic about women’s health in the west of Melbourne gathered to talk about the last twentyone years of work on 5 March 2009. Key to the Future: Unlocking 21 Years of Women’s Stories was an International Women’s Day lunchtime forum that invited women who have worked at, or in partnership with, Women’s Health West during that time. Nelly Thomas, comedian, MC and all round witty gal, steered the conversation through the moving anecdotes and reminiscences of panellists and participants alike. Women were asked to tell their stories through a series of interactive workshops, the stories were recorded and will be collated with archival material, statistics and interviews to create a book outlining the history of Women’s Health West to be launched in November. Here is my story:

hen I meet new people and they ask, “So, what do you do?” I say I work in women’s health. Further probing gets an, “…in communications” reply. The next question is invariably, “What does that mean?” to which my pat response is, “Oh… it’s kind of graphic design, editing… a bit of web stuff and some talking to the media, you know?”

the challenge of settling in another country or work with women with a mental illness to enhance their wellbeing or they work in schools and talk to kids about how to have a healthy relationship. Lindy’s been working here for nineteen years running a support group for women with a disability and talks passionately about a minority that’s often forgotten.

If the new person perseveres past these barriers, I generally become more animated. It’s like they’ve proven that they actually want to know and I can gush freely. “Well, my job is about talking up the work that other people at WHW do, and to be honest, it’s really easy to gush about what they do because it’s so incredible. They’re really inspiring women. Some do health promotion, working with women who have a disability or experience

Or another thing that we worked on recently was to help change abortion legislation in Victoria. That was an emotional rollercoaster! For the first time in my life, I felt that I – as an individual

Scout Kozakiewicz, (talented local photographer who produced WHW’s 2008 International Women’s Day exhibition Tapestries: Stories of Everyday Activism) with her beautiful daughter Edie.

Jen Daddow, Education and Community Development Worker at Carers Victoria brought images of bullet holes to illustrate her moving story of working with refugees at WHW.

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“If I didn’t go to the group, I wouldn’t go anywhere.” Sonya, Laverton Sunrise Group for Women with a Disability

– was not so separate from [deep voice] DEMOCRACY. I think writing to MPs to express my support and having Colleen Hartland (Greens MP) send regular, warm and personalised emails back, keeping me informed and even inviting me to come and watch proceedings from the public gallery, was where I felt like my opinion mattered. That my presence mattered. That a smile from the back of the room might actually influence the course of parliament. That just seemed so powerful and utterly human. And when the legislation passed and abortion was finally taken out of the Crimes Act, I sat for a minute thinking about my friends, and colleagues and women I see on Paisley Street when I nip out to get my lunch, that none of these women would be judged to be criminals if they had to have a medical

The ‘Picture This’ workshop was designed to inspire participants to create a collage picture of their experiences of women’s health and wellbeing and Women’s Health West.

procedure… it was a tear-welling, chestswelling moment that lasted for days. Other workers actually go to court with women who’ve been in violent relationships; they work with the police and help women to do things like find homes after they’ve had to leave with the kids. It’s an amazing job that they do, so serious and stressful and never-ending. I imagine that I’d get really depressed and feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of so much violence, injustice and disrespect.

“There is help and people to guide you through the ‘messy’ bits. To see things clearer even though your world feels like crumbling.” WHW family violence services client Yet you see these women in the kitchen and they’re really funny and warm, passionate and driven. I’ve asked them how they cope and Victoria told me she couldn’t do the job if it weren’t for dancing. She dances on Fridays and Saturdays, sings and plays guitar. It’s her release.

important instructions about how to keep safe, scanning the net for stories on family violence, being aware of statistics like one in five women will be affected by family violence and knowing that at least two women in my circle of friends have experienced the pain of it, makes me frightened for our safety, despairing of our society but also proud to come here every day to be able to play a small part in making a difference.

WHW will run additional workshops in the next few months, so if you didn’t make it to the International Women’s Day event and have a juicy tale about WHW that you’d love to see in print, please contact us on info@whwest.org.au or call 03 9689 9588.

One woman I met recently expressed her amazement at my luck to be working in a feminist organisation, “Wow… so you don’t have to hide it?” she asked. This IWD project is a chance to capture the living, breathing stories of women who’ve worked for, and with, WHW over the last twenty-one years. It’s an exciting prospect and I’m keen for us to get deeper than dry acquittal reports and brittle, depressing statistics to find the juicy heart of our work. What effect has our collective passion made on our community? I think if we all get together and talk and laugh and share the stories of our hopes, achievements and disappointments we can find the strength to keep going. For another twenty-one years.

I’ve laid out brochures about how to gather evidence in case your partner breaches the intervention order you’ve placed on them. Reading these

So. What’s your story?

The WHW Woman workshop explored WHW as a person, asking what characteristics, unique gifts and talents she would have.

The creative writing workshop inspired participants to write their story as it relates to WHW or women’s health and wellbeing.

PHOTOGRAPHER Georgia Metaxas

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Family Violence Services Update Jacky Tucker, Manager Family Violence Services

Homelessness White Paper

he Commonwealth Government received over 600 written submissions to the Homelessness Green Paper ‘Which Way Home’ including one from Women’s Health West (WHW), which was outlined in the last edition of WHW News (edition 3, 2008). We welcomed the release of the Homelessness White Paper, ‘The Road Home’ in December 2008. The White Paper was well received by most as a broad policy framework recognising the complex nature of homelessness and, within that, the impact of family violence against women and children.

The white paper articulated the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to reducing homelessness, providing early intervention services and expanding support and pathways into long term housing. Unfortunately, our ‘where to now?’ questions were not fully resolved. WHW join other family violence services providers in our uncertainty about how the reforms outlined in the white paper will affect women and children experiencing family violence. The Victorian Government, with other states and territories, will provide the

WHW and Victoria Police Project Partnership

omen’s Health West and Victoria Police are developing a number of resources to improve service delivery and to provide women who have experienced family violence with vital information. A card promoting after hours telephone numbers for crisis support services has been developed for all police officers across the western metropolitan region. A poster outlining the same information will be placed in all police station watch houses. We are also working on a pamphlet for women who have been granted an intervention order, containing information on how to collect evidence if that intervention order is breached. A film version of this brochure is in pre-production and these instructional DVDs will be available at court for women who receive intervention orders. You will also be able to watch this short film on our website and on other domestic and family violence organisation’s websites.

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Cards and posters promoting crisis support services for all police offices across the western metropolitan region

Commonwealth Government with an implementation plan in April 2009. We expect that this implementation plan will contain the detail that the white paper is missing. DV Vic, the Victorian peak body for women and children’s family violence services, continues to lobby government to ensure that women, children and service provider’s voices are heard. WHW calls upon the Victorian government to develop an implementation plan that is responsive to the needs of these women and children experiencing family violence for whom homelessness is a serious risk.

omen’s Health West (WHW) is a feminist and action research-based community agency, constantly striving for participants’ involvement, activism, and social change. WHW highly values the feedback received from service users and consistently seeks to enhance service operations to better assist women. As a result, WHW family violence feedback surveys are distributed and reviewed as part of WHW’s service delivery quality assurance process. We completed the first annual client feedback report in March 2009, collating and analysing data from client surveys to measure the efficiency and accessibility of WHW’s feedback mechanisms. Recommendations for service improvement come directly from this feedback. Between January and December 2008, WHW workers collected forty-eight feedback surveys from family violence clients. Clients were extremely satisfied with the respect, fairness, emotional and practical support from WHW workers. Clients also found services they were referred to useful, except in the area of employment. Many clients indicated that their situation changed after contacting WHW, including better awareness

of family violence, access to resources, comfort and empowerment. Clients have also made valuable strategic suggestions to WHW and governing bodies. Recommendations include measures to promote WHW’s family violence services in the western region. In December 2008, the Department of Justice launched a state-wide campaign, ‘Family Violence. Victoria has had Enough’, to promote the new Family Violence Protection Act 2008 and raise public awareness of family violence. However, client feedback indicates a need for greater promotion of specific family violence services as well. Clients recommended raising awareness of the kinds of help available from WHW’s family violence services through local campaigns, including advertising through local community news. Traditionally police stations, hospitals, and other human service agencies have been places where family violence services are advertised. Clients suggest that other daily spaces, such as local cafes and workplaces can also be used creatively for raising awareness of family violence and making services more accessible to the public.

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Vincci Law, Project Worker

WHW Family Violence Services Client Feedback

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Awareness Raising – Hurt Project in Western Australia Batsi and Luise, Family Violence Crisis Outreach Workers

he Western Australian Women’s Council engaged specialist consultants to assist to develop a family violence media campaign to increase the public awareness and education. The ‘HURT’ project: the shame of domestic and family violence in Australia was launched in late 2008. www.hurt.net.au is an interactive website designed to raise awareness about the definition of family violence, different forms of abuse, statistics, and explains how family violence affects women and children and explores why women stay. We encourage you to visit this innovative website that shows true stories of violence told by actors portraying women who have been hurt, men who have used violence and children who have grown up with violence.

“Some stories are confronting but those are not stories about the incidents of violence. These are stories of survival and fear and change - told from the perspectives of the people involved.” www.hurt.net.au

This poster was developed from client recommendations to raise awareness of family violence and help available from WHW’s family violence services. Isis & Pluto

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Family violence legislation changes Batsi and Luise, Family Violence Crisis Outreach Worker

n October 2008, Luise and Batsi, Family Violence Crisis Outreach Workers, facilitated

Family Violence Intervention and Prevention of Violence against Women training at Victoria University. Students learned that family violence legislation changed from the Crimes Family Violence Act (1987) to the Family Violence Bill 2008, which came into effect on 8 December as the Family Violence Protection Act (2008).

Why was the Family Violence Protection Act (2008) introduced in Victoria?

The Act

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The Victorian Law Reform Commission consulted with members of the community, received submissions, undertook research, interviewed victims of family violence and found that:

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Family violence was covered under the same legislation as stalking and neighbourhood disputes and needed to be taken more seriously.

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Family violence required a broader definition to include emotional abuse, threatening behaviour and economic abuse.

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The Act now protects family members from the perpetrator and the definition of ‘family member’ has been expanded from sexual relationships (e.g. victim’s new partner) to include intimate personal relationships (e.g. mother of victim). Protection is also extended to the victim’s associates and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional relatives.

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Maximises women’s safety by giving police more powers to respond to family violence. Police, at the rank of sergeant or above, can issue a safety notice. Safety notices are similar to complaint and warrant (and interim intervention) orders in that they are a summons for the respondent (perpetrator) to appear in court. However, under the new safety notice, the return to court date must be within 72 hours (unless it falls on a public holiday). The duration of a family violence safety notice ends when a family violence intervention order is served on the respondent. This is an important distinction as an interim intervention order ends once the family violence intervention order is granted.

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Improves the court system by preventing perpetrators from cross-examining their victims.

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Makes it easier for a victim of family violence to change locks for safety

reasons and only give new keys to the landlord. If a final intervention order is in place, the protected person can apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) to add their name to the lease and remove the name of perpetrator.

Student evaluations of training The workshop involved discussion about different forms of family violence including how to recognise and respond to family violence, intervention orders and court support. Students reported that they found the workshop beneficial and relevant to their studies - an Advanced Diploma of Legal Practice. Women’s Health West (WHW) is a strong proponent of community education and prevention programs and provides community education and information sessions for community groups and organisations about family violence prevention and how to respond to women and children victims of family violence.

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The Data Book

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Essential statistics on women’s health in the west

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Joy Free, Researcher

The VicHealth study shows that 9.0% of the total disease burden for women aged 15–44 years can be attributed to intimate partner violence.

Victoria has had ENOUGH! WHW welcomed the Victorian Government launch of the ‘enough’ campaign on 7 December 2008, to raise awareness of the new Family Violence Protection Act 2008. Radio, posters and online advertising aspects of the campaign are designed to encourage those experiencing violence, usually women and children, to seek help. Posters are available from WHW, the Werribee, Sunshine and Melbourne courts, as well as police stations in the western region. This increase in publicity and awareness has resulted in more and more women disclosing abuse such as physical, psychological, sexual abuse including reporting how children are affected by the violence through WHW’s family violence intake service and court support.

“I found it most useful [to find out] that family violence is not just physical abuse.” Victoria University student

omen in Melbourne’s West: A Data Book was produced by consultant Wei Leng Kwok of WLK Consulting: Social Research for Healthy Communities. The data book includes statistical information drawn from a range of reputable demographic and health status data sources. It provides a comprehensive gender-specific profile of the health, safety and wellbeing of women living in the western region. The data will assist Women’s Health West in its leadership and advocacy role in regional planning and provide planners with data revealing the needs of women, allowing them to determine gaps and develop appropriate responses. The book provides detailed quantitative data from the seven local government areas that comprise Women’s Health West’s catchment - Melbourne, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Brimbank, Hobsons Bay, Melton, and Wyndham. Where possible, the information is sex-disaggregated to establish gender differences and assist readers to advocate for gender-specific needs assessments and appropriate programmatic responses. Specific data on one suburb from each local government has been selected on the basis that it represents

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disadvantages known to be predictors of poorer health and wellbeing. Nominated suburbs of interest are North Melbourne, Braybrook, Flemington, St Albans, Laverton, Melton South and Werribee. Women’s Health West recognises that many large-scale population-based surveys and data collection instruments are not necessarily designed with women’s ‘lived realities’ in mind, let alone the diverse experiences of subgroups of women which can remain ‘hidden’ at the broader population level. The data book is therefore regarded as a first step in putting together a picture of the health status of women in Melbourne’s west. The data book will be supplemented by qualitative research including the Women’s Health West’s Beyond Symptoms needs analysis, which will explore the diversity of women‘s experiences and promote the ‘voices’ and lived realities of women. For more information on the data book and Beyond Symptoms please contact Joy Free, Researcher, Women’s Health West on 9689 9588 or joy@whwest.org.au

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Animation still from Made In Australia.

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MADE IN AUSTRALIA Kirsten Campbell, Health Promotion Worker

Amie Batalibasi is a young woman with a passion for human rights. A final year film making assignment at VCA (Victorian College of the Arts) and an intriguing notice at the Footscray Library led to her creating a short film, Made in Australia, that tells the story of five Vietnamese women who work as outworkers in Melbourne’s west.

utworkers, or home workers, are people employed in the fashion and textile industry to make garments at home. These workers are often isolated, have very little bargaining power, and are usually women from non-English speaking backgrounds. Outworkers in Australia typically work 12 hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week, for about one third of the award rate of pay.1 “Outworkers are paid per piece or item of clothing - which can end up being as little as $2 an hour - they work under unreasonable deadlines and can be expected to sew 200 complete garments in one week,” says Amie. Further, most do not receive paid annual leave, sick leave or superannuation, and have high rates of work-related injury. The Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia estimates that there are currently around 300,000 outworkers in Australia. Such exploitative working conditions breach the human rights of these workers, in particular, those cited in Articles 23 and 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which include ‘just and favourable conditions of work’, ‘equal pay for equal work,’ ‘reasonable limitation of working hours’ and ‘periodic holidays with pay’.

“At the end of the day I think ‘who am I?’ I am not a person; I’m maybe a slave or something.” Trang2, outworker interviewed in ‘Made in Australia’ Keen to make a film that explored human rights and the stories of outworkers, Amie discovered a notice posted by the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union advertising English classes for outworkers. She was eventually able to attend some of the classes and meet with the women. It took a long time to gain their trust. Some women did not want to be filmed, afraid that it would have repercussions for their employment, but five felt able to be involved. Amie used a range of skills to overcome language barriers, and enable the women to tell their stories for the documentary. “The first time we met, I gave each woman a piece of paper and a pen and asked them to draw what was important to them,” she says.

“In the picture, I drew myself as a bird who is just standing on the ground and looking at the rest of the birds flying. One day I will be flying. Free. Like a bird.” Pham3 outworker interviewed in ‘Made in Australia’

Amie Batalibasi PHOTOGRAPHER Kirsten Campbell

1 No Sweat Shop Label website http://www. nosweatshoplabel.com/homeworkers.asp

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Still from Made In Australia.

The women spoke of the pressure placed on them by their employers, and the loneliness they experience. “They keep on pushing you to finish the work as soon as possible…I sit in the garage working 10-12 hours, I don’t see anyone, it’s really lonely work,” said one woman in the film. The impact on family life is also significant, with women not being able to spend time with their children and sometimes having to ask them to help finish the work. Amie received the Margaret Lawrence Social Justice Award 2007 for the film, and it was screened at the Human Rights and Arts Film Festival in 2008.

Thinking about outworker’s rights and the Victorian Charter of Human Rights… What is the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities? The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (the Charter) is an agreed set of human rights, freedoms and responsibilities protected by law. The Charter focuses on civil and political rights, and includes well known democratic rights such as the right to vote, freedom of expression and freedom from forced work and degrading treatment. Importantly, the Charter does not create any new

cause of action for individuals who believe that their rights enshrined in the Charter have been breached or interfered with. Instead, the focus of the Charter is about creating a human rights culture and awareness at the important policy and planning stages of government and in the community.

How does the Charter protect our human rights? The Charter requires that existing laws are interpreted, as far as possible, in a manner that is compatible with human rights (see section 32). Further, the Charter imposes an obligation on public authorities, such as government, local councils, Victoria Police and others, to act in a way that is consistent with the human rights protected under the Charter. These bodies are required to comply with the Charter and take into account the human rights protected in the Charter in their dayto-day operations (see section 38). In addition, the Charter acts as a human rights filter for new Victorian laws.

What does this mean for outworkers? Although the Charter does not give rise to an additional right to legal action for a breach of the Charter, it does allow a person to raise a human rights argument in a court or a tribunal in

an existing case. In the event that an outworker has a cause of action and initiates proceedings in a Victorian court or tribunal, that court or tribunal will be obliged to interpret the legislation in question (which might be an award that governs the outworker’s employment conditions), as far as possible, in a way that is consistent with the human rights in the Charter. When Parliament is making new laws in Victoria in relation to outworkers, a statement of compatibility with the human rights protected by the Charter must be produced and any incompatibilities explained. In addition, when outworkers are dealing with public authorities, those public authorities must act in a way that is compatible with human rights and consider a relevant human right when making a decision. To find out more about making a complaint of discrimination, sexual harassment and racial or religious vilification, visit www. humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au or call the free telephone advice line on (03) 281 7100 (free interpreters are available). To find out what you can do to help give outworkers fair pay and conditions, visit the Fair Wear website, www.fairwear.org.au .

whw news edition 1 • 2009

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Kirsten Campbell and Sally Camilleri, Health Promotion Workers “I’ve learned about engaging people so everybody can have a go – especially the quieter girls.” Lead On Again participant

ine energetic young women from Burma, Thailand, Liberia, Chile, Albania, Somalia and Tonga gathered during a hot week in January for the fourth Lead On Again program. Their experiences, questions, ideas and openness contributed to a rich and dynamic week. Lead On Again is a leadership program for young women from diverse backgrounds aged between 16 and 24. The program is run in partnership by Women’s Health West (WHW) and the youth advocacy organisation, Western Young People’s Independent Network (WYPIN), and encourages young women to develop their leadership skills and confidence and to participate as advocates in our community. “I’ve learned to be more assertive and talk about my feelings.” Lead on Again participant

This year we emphasised reflection as an essential part of leadership as well as learning new skills like planning an event, public speaking and giving each other feedback in a safe way. Participants wrote about their experiences in journals at the end of each day and explored how they might apply these experiences in their lives. At the beginning of each day we encouraged the young women to reflect by passing around the ‘talking gourd’ and sharing questions and thoughts about the day before. PHOTOGRAPHER Sally Camilleri

whw news edition 1 • 2009

Young women’s highlights of Lead On Again include being more confident

20 09 to talk in public, meeting new people, learning to resolve conflict, and learning how to work effectively in a group. E’mer participated in Lead On Again in 2008 and was our peer educator this year. Her depth of experience and ability enabled her to connect with the young women in a way that really enhanced the week. The young women were inspired by E’mer’s story about her first trip outside the refugee camp on the Thai/Burma border, where she grew up. E’mer said, “Having been involved in Lead On Again as a peer educator was very powerful and challenging for me, to stand up in front of the group to say something and support them. Lead On Again taught me to step up one step with confidence to go forward and reach my goal.”

Lead On Again workers will support this group of young women to apply their new skills and knowledge to reinforce the messages of the weeklong workshops. The young women are enthusiastic about planning an action to address youth unemployment in the west. Many of the young women have also been linked with WYPIN and other agencies to get involved in other community leadership activities. If you’re interested in finding out more about the Lead On Again model, or would like to run a similar program within your service, a manual that includes training resources, facilitator’s notes and an evaluation of the program is available from WHW. See page 18 to order your copy.

A Carer Peer Educator’s Perspective

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PHOTOGRAPHER Sally Camilleri

Pat Chalmers, Peer Educator, Power On for Carers

The following is an extract from a speech made by Pat Chalmers at a recent Victorian Carers Service

“Being a peer educator involves giving and gaining too.” Pat Chalmers

Network Best Practice Conference.

to carers’ needs. I suggested ideas that were relevant to carers and should be included.

have been a Peer Educator with Women’s Health West since September 2006. I share the knowledge and skills I’ve gained through being a carer of a person with a mental illness for many years. I share my experiences with carers who live a comparable life to my own. The Power On for Carers program aims to help women who are carers to enhance their health and well being.

As a carer of a family member who has a mental illness my involvement is vital to the program because I can relate to, and understand, what carers deal with on a daily basis. Until you have experienced caring for a person with a mental illness you are unable to fully comprehend what is involved. It’s the hands on, day-to-day living, the highs and lows, the pressure we are under, that only carers know about.

It all began for me at a carers support group I regularly attended. Staff from Carers Respite Connections asked if I would be interested in a job as a peer educator. I wasn’t sure what was required, but was very happy to take up the opportunity. I hoped that I had some something to offer in this role, as I am a caring and compassionate person. When Sally (the Power On Project Worker) called to say I had the job, my self-esteem went through the roof!

As carers, we often put ourselves last. This affects how we cope and how we manage this often very stressful role. Like many carers, I have experienced depression and a breakdown myself. We have to take care of ourselves; carers are JUST as important and worthwhile as the people we care for. We emphasise this throughout Power On. Being a peer educator involves giving and gaining too. I connect with the women in the program because we are in the same boat. My confidence and self-esteem has grown. I have learned so much, and continue to do so. I am challenged, supported and have really enjoyed myself along the way.

There are no formal qualifications for this job, but Carers Respite Connections kindly paid for me to attend a short course to learn about the facilitating aspects of Power On workshops. Going back to study at my age was quite a challenge for me, but I gave it my best shot and successfully completed the course.

I can honestly say that being a peer educator is the most fulfilling, satisfying work I have ever done. I believe in the Power On program. Being part of enhancing the lives of women who are carers is a true pleasure for me.

I brought my perspective and experience in dealing with mental illness throughout my life, to working with Sally to adapt Power On

whw news edition 1 • 2009

Women in the region

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Words and pictures by Scout Kozakiewicz

t has been ten years since Donna walked out of prison for the last time. Uniquely placed as an advocate for prisoners, she is passionate about educating the community about the ineffectiveness of prison and dispelling the stereotypes that the public are fed through media, politics and ignorance. ‘My big passion and my big love are to go out to the community and talk about women in prison, because prison is something that is still hidden. We have displaced women that we just throw away. We lock them up where no one can see them. And for a lot of these women, prison is not the answer.’ Donna served multiple prison terms in the 90s and is familiar with the cyclical nature of the prison system. ‘Like many people there, I was on that merry-goround. I just kept coming in and out, in and out. Through that process, I lost contact with, and custody of, my child. Basically, I found it easier to be inside than out. I felt that’s where I belonged, that’s where I fitted. I also didn’t have to worry about things, make excuses as to why I lost my child. I was like many women caught up in the system and I think it’s a real indictment that the majority of [these] women would prefer to be in prison rather than be out and part of our community.’ Breaking the cycle is extremely difficult. These women are dealing with a variety of issues such as addiction, poverty, abuse and mental illness. ‘For many they don’t get out of the system. The sad part about it is that I have lost many friends through death, overdoses and other causes. I suppose I am one of the lucky ones. It’s been a hard journey but I have made it. And I think it is possible for anyone to make it. It takes commitment; it takes other support around you. I see myself as a spokesperson for people who are still caught up in the system. People

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“Anyone can strive to be anything in this world. People have got to have dreams. You have to believe in yourself.” who are still dealing with their addiction issues or whatever, but also a voice for so many women who are dead. It’s interesting, not many women go through the system and get to the age of forty.’

this big fantasy that we want people to do their time, get out, get on with their life, get a job and live happily ever after. Damaged women end up in prison and prison damages people.’

Adjusting to the outside world is a lonely and intimidating process. ‘These women find it easier to go back to the world they know. It’s so hard to survive on the outside when you don’t have a roof over your head, you haven’t got any skills or education, and you’ve never had a job! You’ve got a criminal record, so there is all that baggage that you carry.’

Donna is a role model for prisoners and shows what can be achieved if people are given support and are respected. She is re-forging her relationship with her son and celebrating her commitment to her partner.

Joining Somebody’s Daughter Theatre Company (SDTC) provided the anchor Donna needed to begin the process of recovery. She first saw their productions whilst in prison and they became her lifeline post-release. Donna has since found employment with VACRO (Victorian Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders) and lectures at educational facilities. ‘I guess I got lucky working with SDTC and VACRO. Now I am moving on to other things. Lots of people who walk out of prison don’t have that. We have

‘Anyone can strive to be anything in this world. People have got to have dreams. You have to believe in yourself.’

This interview and photograph is part of the Tapestries: Stories of Everyday Activism exhibition travelling around the western region. You can see the show at Wyndham Cultural Centre in Werribee from 14-28 April 2009 and at Queen Victoria Women’s Centre in the city from 26 June–17 July 2009. The exhibition is available for loan to community organisations, just contact WHW for details on 9689 9588 or email info@whwest.org.au

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(Participant in South Sudanese Financial Literacy Program)

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Sally Camilleri, Health Promotion Worker

ur financial literacy project was funded by the Office of Women’s Policy and based on a model developed by Women’s Health in the North. Community consultations revealed South Sudanese, Karen and Somali women as the first three groups we should approach to develop a financial literacy program. Workers from the North West Migrant Resource Centre and Women’s Health West formed a project steering group. This is a new area for me. It’s good to be around in the beginning and nut out ideas and concepts, to share information and contacts and then to hear about the success of the program. I enjoyed the chance to work with a group of people from different organisations who were all passionate about the project. (Reem Omarit - Steering Group Member)

MacKillop Family Services were keen to support some South Sudanese women in Melton who wanted to start a group. WHW saw this as a fantastic opportunity to work with MacKillop to support a women’s group from its inception, while enhancing South Sudanese women’s confidence and knowledge to handle their finances. We were also keen to link local Melton service providers with this newly-arrived community. We employed South Sudanese childcare workers and a qualified interpreter, who was known to the women. We asked the eight women who attended the first

session, ‘How is dealing with money in Australia different to back home?’ Back home when it’s time to get paid, you just get it in your hand. In Australia, it goes into the bank. You bring the water and there is no gas or electricity; we have no car registration. (Participant) Saving for food is different too. Back home you have corn flour and can use it for a whole year. The community will make a fire and you can cook with it. Here you have to buy everything, even a lighter to make the fire. (Participant) It’s hard to manage money; paying bills and food is hard. You borrow money then they want the money back urgently. How do you deal with that? (Participant) In Australia, a man comes to your door and tells you that you have won $500 you just have to sign... and then someone else comes and tries to sell you a vacuum cleaner and you don’t get your $500. (Participant)

Building on this conversation, we developed an interactive program. As the weeks went on, women invited their friends to join the group, which expanded to fifteen women; clearly the program was relevant to their needs. Now I know I can pay my concession amount, not the whole amount of my bill. (Participant)

Four sessions were facilitated by Nick Trewhella, Financial Counsellor from Melton Community Health

Centre, who made appointments to assist individual women. He also worked with the group to explore:

•• ••

issues around energy and paying bills understanding contracts and the power of your signature

••

low cost loans and other financial services

••

bank accounts and interest rates

Another session, jointly delivered by Katie Fraser from the Footscray Community Legal Centre and Liz Arichard from the Brimbank Community Legal Service, was very exciting because many women were not aware of these services. They discussed traffic infringements, laws about door-to-door sales and contracts, and paying for Citylink. This group of South Sudanese women will continue meeting with support from the MacKillop Family Literacy Project. They also plan to sustain their links with local services, periodically inviting the community legal service and financial counselling service to attend their gatherings. Women’s Health West is working on the next phase of the project with the New Hope Foundation and Karen women in Werribee. Thankyou to our partners in this project: MacKillop Family Services, North West Migrant Resource Centre, Melton Community Legal Service, Footscray Community Legal Centre, Melton Community Health Centre and the Office of Women’s Policy. PHOTOGRAPHER Sally Camilleri

Funds for WHW

Lauren Eagle, Finance Manager

Women’s Health West would like to extend our thanks for the following financial contributions. Grants

Donations

$5,000 from City of Melbourne for emergency relief

$1,900 from the Department of Justice, Werribee Court

$1,818 from Wyndham City Council for Key to the Future our International Women’s Day forum

$328.05 from OAMPS Insurance Brokers Ltd as a donation by staff for casual clothes day $2,100 from the Department of Justice, Sunshine Court

Donations to WHW 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

I was nearly crazy with worry, & now I know where I can get help.

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for reproductive rights

Another victory

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Sarah and Felicity Marlowe

The recent passing of the Assisted Reproductive Treatment Bill is proof that grassroots, womenled campaigning really does work! Sarah and Felicity Marlowe explain how empowering families to make the personal political tipped the balance and got a controversial piece of legislation through the Victorian Parliament.

ast year was a great one for women’s reproductive rights in Victoria. Following hard on the heels of abortion law reform came another vote in the Victorian Parliament. This one caused a similar storm of controversy, and went much closer to the wire in terms of passing each house of Parliament. It finally did so on 4 December 2008 with the support of the ALP and the Greens, with one true Liberal ‘crossing the floor’ to support the Bill (it was a ‘conscience/ free’ vote for both major parties) and one ALP Member crossing the other way. The issue was often summarised in the mainstream press as ‘Lesbian IVF’ – but it was about much more than that. Yes, it was about reforming discriminatory laws brought in by Kennett that barred single women and lesbians from accessing fertility services. But equally important were the changes to at last recognise and protect family relationships of children with samesex parents. The Assisted Reproductive Treatment Act, as it is now known, made into law a raft of other very complex recommendations from the Victorian Law Reform Commission around reproductive technologies – including effectively legalising surrogacy - who has access to them, and how families created thus will be treated by law. It was just short of one year between the Victorian Government announcing that they would implement almost all

whw news edition 1 • 2009

Felicity Marlowe was the campaign coordinator and is a co-convenor of the Rainbow Families Council. She and Sarah worked on the campaign for five years, and continue to campaign for further legal and social change, in between parenting three children under three!

of the 136 recommendations of the Commission’s almost five-year Enquiry. Throughout that year, the Rainbow Families Council’s Love Makes a Family campaign encouraged families and prospective parents to visit their local MPs, and send them emails and family photos. Hundreds of people who had never before engaged in political campaigning told their personal stories, and got their parents, friends and workmates to do the same. That was our strategy: to show that this was about real children and real families. And it worked! On October 30 we called a ‘Prams and Grans’ community gathering on the steps of Parliament. After the rally about 40 parents and our children went to watch the debate in the upper house, and happened to meet MP Robert Smith in the foyer. It was an important chance meeting, as he said in his speech supporting the Bill, “The impact it had on me - not confronting but meeting these women and their children face to face - was profound. It drove home to me the fact that we are dealing with real people and real children, here and now. They exist. Are they treated fairly and equally in society through birth certificate registration

et cetera? The answer is no. Should they be? My view is yes, they should.” The legislation is not perfect, but it is largely what same-sex families wanted, and what women’s health services, including Women’s Health West, lobbied for. Two key issues remain unresolved: access to adoption was referred to the Federal Committee of Community Services Ministers, with the aim of achieving consistent reform across Australia, while the issue of access to donor information for donor-conceived children where donations preceded 1988 reforms giving such access was referred to a Parliamentary committee. We anticipate that 2009 will be a year of education, training and implementation, as fertility clinics, state government departments and services have until January 1 2009 to implement the reforms outlined in the new Act. Check our website below for updates. It was an amazing community effort, and a wonderful human rights victory for our children and our diverse communities. We’d like to thank Women’s Health West for their support from the beginning. For more information visit www.rainbowfamilies.org.au.

Membership form Membership is free. To apply, fill in this form and mail to Women’s Health West: 3 17–319 Barkly Street, Footscray VIC 3011 TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP

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World Urban Forum in Nanjing

Georgie Hill from over three years to support the development of innovative Maribyrnong Council and programs and policies to integrate ‘community safety’ and Deputy Chair of ‘violence prevention’ with health and gender planning. WHW Board; Dr. Carolyn On the second day of the conference we conducted a Whitzman, Senior workshop titled Linking Gender, Local Governance and Lecturer, Urban Violence Prevention. The workshop was facilitated by Carolyn Planning, Faculty Whitzman from the University of Melbourne, with three of Architecture, Building and presentations – Georgie Hill from Maribyrnong Council, note: Planning, Dr. Anna Mtani from Safer Cities Tanzania and Kalpana t is the customer's responsibility to check that the artwork is correct, University please check of the delivery address details and the addressee details below the barcode. Contact Aust Viswanath, the women’s safety consultant from New Delhi equired. Melbourne Failure to adhere to correct addressing and formatting standards will result in higher customer or cancellation service. India –charges outlining useful toolsoffor preventing violence against note: Refer to the Reply Paid Service Guide orExecutive visit www.auspost.com.au/replypaid Robyn Gregory, Chief Officer tresponsibility is the customer's to check responsibility that the artwork to check is correct, that the please artworkcheck is correct, the delivery please address check thedetails delivery andaddress the addressee details and details the below addressee the group barcode. detailsdiscussions. below Contact theAustralia barcode. Contact if any Aust ch women, followed by facilitated small Forty Post Please check the artwork details thoroughly. Australia Post is not responsible for any errors. equired. people attended the workshop from fifteen countries, with Failure correcttoaddressing adhere to correct and formatting addressing standards and formatting will resultstandards in higher will customer result in charges higher or customer cancellation charges of service. or cancellation of service. was very lucky to be invited to attend the 4th World Urban small group discussions in English, French and Spanish. Refer Paid Service to the Reply Guide Paid or visit www.auspost.com.au/replypaid Guide city or visit www.auspost.com.au/replypaid Forum inService the ancient of Nanjing, China, from 3-6 Please artworkcheck details the thoroughly. artwork Australia thoroughly. Post is not Australia responsible Post isfor not any responsible errors. for any errors. Font colour:details Black only Note: All components must be printed.

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November 2008. The invitation resulted from Women’s Width: 110 mm X Length: 220 mm Health West’s involvement in the Gender, Local Governance andFont Violence Prevention (GLOVE) project, an ARC linkage t colour: Black only colour: Black only th: 110 mm X Length: Width: 220 110 mm mm X Length: mmVictorian municipalities project that worked with220 four

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whw news edition 3 • 2009

Violence against women is unacceptable in any culture

new Women’s Health West poster aimed at increasing community awareness that family violence is unacceptable in any culture is broadcasting the message across the region.

Client feedback identified a need for Women’s Health West to raise awareness of our family violence service and be more visible in the community. The poster provides contact details of Women’s Health West family violence support services as well as after-hours crisis support. This information has also been translated into two community languages: Arabic and Vietnamese.

To order free copies of this fantastic new resource for your organisation please complete the publications order form below or email veronica@whwest.org.au y uit or check www.whwest.org.au e

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To order free copies of this fantastic new resource for your organisation please complete the publications order form below

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whw news edition 1 • 2009

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EVENTS AND NOTICES Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program WHW’s Family and Reproductive Rights Education Program (FARREP) provides community information sessions for African women from communities affected by Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). Information sessions focus on women’s health and wellbeing, and can be tailored to meet the specific needs of women. Each session is facilitated by an experienced FARREP worker using culturally-appropriate resources. WHW FARREP also provides training on FGM for health professionals and relevant organisations and individuals. Training focuses on the social and cultural aspects of FGM. Sessions aim to build the capacity and expertise of services to deal with women and girls affected by, or at risk of being affected by, FGM. For more information on either type of session, please contact the WHW Sexual and Reproductive Health Coordinator on 9689 9588.

Mother’s Day Classic

Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea

10 May 2009

28 May 2009

One in eleven Australian women will get breast cancer during their lifetime. It could be you, your sister, mother, cousin, aunt, partner or friend. Breast cancer really can affect any one of us.

The official day for this year’s morning tea is 28 May 2009; however, you can hold your fundraising tea anytime in May or June.

Next Mother’s Day you have the opportunity to do something real to support continuing research to fight breast cancer. Make a difference by simply walking, running or sponsoring a participant to help raise vital funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. www.mothersdayclassic.org

Join over 1 million Australians and take a break to fight cancer. By simply hosting a morning tea in your office, home, club or school and inviting your guests for a cuppa, you can make a difference to the lives of Australians affected by cancer each year. Every cup counts! Phone: 1300 656 585 www.biggestmorningtea.com.au

Free Filming Course for Young Sudanese Women Young Sudanese-Australian women (aged 18-25) are invited to participate in ‘Cross-Marked: Sudanese Women Talk Education’ a project that explores experiences of education in Australia. Young women will be taught to use cameras, edit and create documentary short films. For more information contact Anne Harris on 0408 803 609 or Anne.Harris2@live.vu.edu.au

Radical Campaigns that changed Australia From Seeds of Dissent 2009! Celebrating Radical Australia. Calendar produced by 3CR 855AM, Melbourne’s activist radio station. Radical dates source by Iain McIntyre of the 3CR calendar team. 8 March 2009

Women’s Health West’s International Women’s Day event is broadcast on 3CR.

22 April 1980

Brisbane – 1500 rally for abortion rights.

22 April 1891

In Sydney, the Women’s Suffrage League is formed to campaign for the right to vote.

25 April 1983

Sydney – Women Against Rape in War stage a march on Anzac Day.

29 April 1980

Brisbane – 400 picket parliament protesting proposed anti-abortion legislation.

11 May 2006

After a two-month occupation of King’s Domain during the Commonwealth Games, Camp Sovereignty is evicted by police.

28 May 2000

250,000 march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in a show of support for reconciliation.

1 June 1990

Adelaide – Women rally against sexual assault.

8 June 1941

Sydney – Pearl Gibbs becomes the first Aboriginal woman to appear on radio as she calls for equality during an interview on 2GB.

22 June 1884

The Victorian Women’s Suffrage Society is formed to fight for the right to vote.

24 June 1978

The first Gay Mardi Gras march in Sydney ends in a police riot.

28 June 2006

Millions protest around Australia against the Howard Government’s attacks on worker’s rights and conditions.

8 July 1915

The Women’s Peace Army is formed to fight conscription.

30 July 1973

Thousands attend a Melbourne rally for abortion rights.

whw news edition 1 • 2009

PHOTOGRAPHER Georgia Metaxas

Women’s Health West in the News

Women’s Health West 317-319 Barkly Street Footscray 3011 phone fax email

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website

Our International Women’s Day forum Key to the Future: unlocking 21 years of women’s stories, was a day of food, laughter and celebrations. We also gained healthy coverage in the local press, see page 4 for details about the event.

www.whwest.org.au

women’s health west – active, effective and leading the region in advancing women’s health, safety and wellbeing