Women's Health Goulburn North East

Women's Health Goulburn North East (WHGNE) is an Australian feminist non-government organisation that works to improve women's health and advance gender equality across the Goulburn Valley and North East Victoria. It describes itself as "a proudly feminist organisation supporting the creation of equal, just and resilient regional communities that are safe and healthy for all." Rather than operating as a conventional clinical service, WHGNE applies a gendered lens to the social, economic and environmental factors that shape women's health and wellbeing in rural and regional settings. The organisation traces its origins to 1992, when a group of women from Shepparton and North East Victoria decided that establishing a women's health service was a first step toward improving regional women's health. A steering committee secured funds for a Consultation and Needs Study, and in March 1993 the report "Health Needs of Women in the Goulburn North East" was completed, identifying the disadvantage rural women faced in accessing health services and information. Funding was then obtained to establish an autonomous regional women's health service, which initially operated as a program of the Ovens & King Community Health Service under the name NEWomen. The first Manager, Dee Basinski, was appointed in March 1994. WHGNE's work is organised around several focus areas: climate change, economic empowerment, gender equity, the prevention of violence against women, and sexual and reproductive health. It provides research, resources and toolkits, and works with community groups, organisations and workplaces to deliver consultations, coaching, tailored training, workshops and facilitated conversations. It also convenes communities of practice, including the Gender Equity Community of Practice and the Care through Disaster Community of Practice, the latter developed in collaboration with Australia reMADE. The organisation works with a broad range of stakeholders committed to gender equity, including sporting clubs, small businesses and industry bodies, local government, community groups, service clubs, government departments, public utilities and semi-government organisations, hospitals and health services, and emergency services. It is part of the wider network of Victorian Women's Health Services and engages in advocacy, including public responses to state budget and health investment decisions. WHGNE is governed by a volunteer Board and invites community members to join its team of Board members.

The history of Women's Health Goulburn North East is closely tied to the broader Victorian Women's Health Services movement. In 1992, a group of women from Shepparton and North East Victoria decided that a first step towards improving the health of women in the region was to establish a Women's Health Service. A steering committee successfully obtained funds to undertake a Consultation and Needs Study during the development phase of what was then called the Goulburn North Eastern Women's Health Service, known as NEWomen. In March 1993, the report "Health Needs of Women in the Goulburn North East" was completed. This report identified the disadvantage of rural women in relation to access to health services and information. Funding was obtained to establish an autonomous regional women's health service, and following months of negotiation with the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Women's Health Service was established as a program of Ovens & King Community Health Service. The first Manager, Dee Basinski, was appointed in March 1994. Between 1993 and 2000, the organisation operated as NEWomen, a program of Ovens and King Community Health Service. In 1998, the DHS commissioned NEWomen to develop a Women's Health Plan for the Hume region. The resulting Women's Health Plan Hume Region identified three major goals: to identify regional priorities for the improvement of health outcomes for women; to ensure that health service to women is appropriate, relevant and effective; and to ensure a coordinated approach to addressing women's health issues across the Hume region. Over time the organisation evolved from a program of a community health service into an autonomous regional women's health service, adopting the name Women's Health Goulburn North East. It became part of the network of Victorian Women's Health Services and continued to build on the work of the women who came before. Its focus expanded to include gender equity, the prevention of violence against women, women's economic empowerment, gender and climate change, and sexual and reproductive health. In the 2020s, WHGNE continued to provide a regional and rural perspective on gender equality, developing resources and toolkits, convening communities of practice, and engaging in advocacy. It welcomed investment in women's health through the Women's Health Services Network and responded publicly to state budget decisions. It also developed collaborative projects such as Care through Disaster with Australia reMADE, exploring how communities can prepare for, mitigate and recover from disasters in ways that centre care as a public good.

• 2000

  The organisation operated as NEWomen, a program of Ovens and King Community Health Service, from 1993 until around 2000.

• 1998

  The Department of Human Services commissioned NEWomen to develop a Women's Health Plan for the Hume region.

• 1994

  Dee Basinski was appointed as the first Manager in March.

• 1993

  The report "Health Needs of Women in the Goulburn North East" was completed in March, identifying rural women's disadvantage in accessing health services and information.

• 1992

  A group of women from Shepparton and North East Victoria decided to establish a Women's Health Service; a steering committee obtained funds for a Consultation and Needs Study.

A feminist, community-focused women's health organisation providing a regional and rural perspective on gender equality and women's health in Victoria.

• Gender Equity Community of Practice

  Brings together key stakeholders to collaboratively address gender inequality as a key driver of violence against women.

• Care through Disaster Community of Practice

  A collaborative project with Australia reMADE exploring approaches to disaster preparation, mitigation and recovery that centre care as a component of the public good.

• Gender Equity Pathway

  A whole-of-organisation approach to implementing and embedding gender equity.

1. 1Women's Health Goulburn North Eastwhealth.com.au
2. 2Our history - Women's Health Goulburn North Eastwhealth.com.au
3. 3About Us - Women's Health Goulburn North Eastwhealth.com.au
4. 4Services - Women's Health Goulburn North Eastwhealth.com.au
5. 5Women's Health Goulburn North Eastwikidata.org