From the CEO, Kit McMahon

Transformational Gender Change through Jobs and Skills

Well, what momentum we have here in Victoria for intersectional gender equity.  Not only was the lived experience of women front and centre of the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit, but also in the last few weeks we have had: 

• The release of the Victorian Skills Plan from the Victorian Skills Commission 

• The Commission for Gender Equality in the Public Sector’s Base line data report from the 2021 Workforce Gender Audits of the Victorian public sector (AND the brilliant data portal), as well as 

• The Victorian Government’s response to the Inquiry into Economic Equity for Victorian Women.

All of this is transformational work… and of course, the journey needs to continue. 

What is really important to know is that across all this work, many leaders and advocates of intersectional gender equity have been playing a role, including across the Victorian Women’s Health Services. 

WHISE played a key role in the recently released Victorian Skills Commission Skills Plan through our work with the Action for Gender Equality Partnership.  We were delighted that our report and recommendations were considered and utilised for the final plan. Like the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit, the plan recognises the reality of skills shortages across Victoria but also understands the drivers that have contributed to our current place. It is about the pandemic, but it is also about recognising and changing the way that our skill system provides equitable skill pathways and opportunities.

The Victorian Skills Plan seeks to address this, and over the next three years will: 

• Conduct an annual gender impact assessment of the implementation of the Skills Plan to inform subsequent skills plans and guide the sector 

• Monitor the education and employment outcomes of women who enrol in training 

• In partnership with providers, engage women from diverse backgrounds and report on perspectives and challenges associated with participation in education and training 

• Partner with other agencies to address localised barriers to both male and female participation in education and training and the labour force 

• Expand and further develop work with employers, their representatives and unions to raise awareness and collaborate on initiatives that increase both demand for female workers and the representation of women in non-traditional occupations, industries and management and leadership positions, and for males across the care economy occupations in significant demand. 

WHISE celebrates the moment of the Skills Plan, within the bigger context of the movement for gender equity in Victoria. 

In addition to this, WHISE is delighted that we: 

• Delivered a capacity building session on Gender Impact Assessments at the Victorian TAFE Association Conference in Bendigo in August 

• Delivered capacity building at the Chisholm TAFE Staff Conference on Bystander Action and Managing Disclosures 

• Collaborated with Gender Equity Victoria and Women in Adult and Vocational Education (WAVE) to put forward a submission to the Federal Government’s Senate Inquiry into Jobs and Skills Australia 

• Have been accepted to deliver a presentation at the National TAFE Directors Conference with WAVE on Gender Equality and Skills.

Stay tuned – we are looking forward to so much more to come. 

Work with us - we are hiring

WHISE is the leading agency in Southern Metropolitan Melbourne for Gender Equity, Women’s Health and Primary Prevention.

Join us and become part of a strengthened organisation with a feminist spirit, that is expanding its work in the heart of the most diverse region of Australia.

Work with a caring, supportive and empowered team of professionals that prevents violence against women, seeks to increase the mental health and wellbeing of women, improve sexual and reproductive health and make our region gender equitable.

The Victorian Government has increased the funding of women’s health services across Victoria for the next two years and reformed our guidelines to strengthen and recognise our role as key in the Victorian Public Health System.

With our eyes firmly set on making the best of this opportunity in the short, medium and longer term, WHISE is now recruiting.

Applications are now open for:

• Manager, Operations and Business (Full Time Ongoing)
• Capacity and Capability Lead (Full Time, initial 2 year contract)
• Prevention of Violence against Women Lead (Full time, initial 2 year contract)
• Digital Communications Officer (Part Time, initial 2 year contract)
• Research and Evaluation Officer (Part Time, initial 2 year contract)
• Women’s Health and Engagement Officer x 3 (Bi-cultural, Migrant and Refugee identified)

Join us on October 18, 2022 for a conference on incorporating lived experience into the Family Violence sector.

Women's Health In The House

The 12 Victorian Women’s Health Services met on Tuesday 13 September to mark progress of work for gender equality and make a call for all parties and government to sustain the commitments of preventing family violence, of continuing to invest in intersectional gender equity and, to drive change in our health system so it is equitable for all.

Joined by the Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, parliamentarians and key stakeholders, the event at the Windsor Hotel showcased the current work of the only part of the public health structure that applies a gender lens to services and programs delivered by our health and social services system and reflected on the history of the women’s health movement in Victoria.

“The last 30 to 40 years of work across the Victorian women’s health movement has been transformational, but we can’t stop now,” said Kit McMahon, WHISE CEO.

“While one in four women are still experiencing intimate partner violence since they were 15, when over 36% of Victorian women have been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and when one in two women experience sexual harassment, we must keep sustaining and driving for change.

“This event sought to showcase not only the work that the Women’s Health Services do, but the reality that it takes all parts of our public health policy and system working in collaboration and in partnership to really achieve an equitable health system and community.”

Sexual & Reproductive Health

Hot Topic: A free public webinar on menopause and how to manage

Cultural Competency Training - Save the Date:

WHISE is partnering with the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) to deliver free cultural competency training for healthcare professionals, health promotion practitioners, policymakers, planners, and other community service professionals. 

This training will provide participants with an enhanced understanding of how different cultural values, beliefs, and attitudes, as well as experiences of migration, asylum, racism and discrimination, impact health outcomes and access to services; and how to provide inclusive and appropriate information and services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. 

The training will be delivered in-person at the Strathaird Family & Community Centre with thanks to the City of Casey, on Thursday 24 November, with registration details to follow shortly.

Keep an eye on our socials and put the date in your diary.

Sexual and Reproductive Health Week 

The Victorian Women's Health Services are launching their annual social media campaign for Sexual and Reproductive Health Week (Monday 26 September - Friday 30 September). This year our campaign is focused on raising awareness of, and advocating for the expansion of, abortion services in Victoria. 

The campaign includes a historical timeline of advances in access to abortion in Victoria, and highlights some of the ongoing barriers to accessing services for women and people with a uterus.  A comprehensive campaign package will be circulated shortly for our partners to post, share, and engage with on social media platforms.

Contact us at whise@whise.org.au if you would like more information.

Multicultural Community Engagement Team

It's also time to farewell our Multicultural Community Engagement Team (MCET) after almost 18 months of health education in our region, working with the WOMHEn Project.