Women's Health

The Women's Health and Community Partnerships Unit is one of a number of program areas in SESIH that contribute to the improved health of the population. Programs within Women's Health and Community Partnerships collaborate with a wide range of health services, community organisations and non-government organisations to improve the health and wellbeing of women, young people and people subject to homelessness. The Unit provides leadership and coordination for implementing health policy and programs that address inequities in health outcomes in relation to these groups.

Women's Health

Area Women's Health Programs are underpinned by the principles of primary health care and recognition that the health and wellbeing of women is determined by social, economic, and cultural factors as well as biological factors. Program areas include: Early Parenting Program, Health Equity and Community Initiatives Program, Violence and Abuse (Adults) Prevention Program, Well Women's Health Program.

A definition of women's health encompasses:

• A social and holistic view of health, recognising that the risk of disease and poor health outcomes are influenced by a range of social and economic determinants.
• An outcomes approach, focusing on the benefits of what we do, rather than how much we do.
• A population approach, considering the health of all women and groups of women, not just those who present when they are sick.
• A gender approach, recognising that socially constructed views of gender and expectations of what it is to be ‘male' and ‘female' influence women's health behaviour and outcomes.
• A focus on equity, recognising that some groups of women are disadvantaged in access to health services and in health outcomes, and giving priority to reducing inequities.
• A consumer-based approach, acknowledging women's experience and preferences and not restricted to medicalised models.
• A broad view of health that includes wellbeing and prevention, not just disease.

Women's Health Program Areas

The Women's Health and Community Partnerships Unit has the following Women's Health program areas:

Early Parenting Program

• Early parenting education
• Addressing inequities in maternal and early childhood services
• Father Links Project

Health Equity and Community Initiatives Program

• Bilingual Community Education Program
• Emotional Wellbeing Project
• Macedonian Women's Project
• Botany Community Development Project
• Malabar Community Development Project
• Women's Hands Project – Community development in East Nowra
• Women's Health Promotion in Illawarra

Violence and Abuse Prevention (adults) Program

• Domestic violence policy implementation
• Staff training about domestic violence
• Coordinating implementation of Victims of Crime policy

Well Women's Health Program

• Provision of Women's Health Nurse clinics to targeted populations
• Staff education
• Community information

For more information contact:

Women's Health and Community Partnerships central office (Randwick)
Ph: 9382 8156
Fax: 9382 8158
Email: area-whu@sesiahs.health.nsw.gov.au

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