30 Years
WHISE celebrates 30 years of working to the guiding vision of a region where women and children are safe, healthy and thriving.
|
|
|
On Thursday 27 October, while Melbourne was thrashed by strong winds and pelting rain, partners, members and friends of WHISE gathered at Mordialloc Life Saving Club for our 2021-22 Annual General Meeting and 30th Birthday Celebration.
In celebrating our 30 years of work, of legacy and of herstory, we must acknowledge that WHISE is here today, doing what it does in our community, only because of the leaders, partners and members of WHISE who came before us. Our grounding in intersectional feminism drives us to acknowledge the voices, stories and impact of the women who, through WHISE, have sought to create equity across our health and wellbeing systems and structure and in our community. This year, as across all years, we pay tribute to them, their work and enduring impact.
Join us for a walk through the ‘herstory’ of WHISE. This short video showcases our work over the past 30 years, gives insight into the passion and energy of our founders and looks at why developing a women’s health service was so important.
The Annual Report 2021-22 shows the work and projects that WHISE has delivered over the last 12 months, noting that in reality the work has been done in collaboration with others – other leaders, workers, and organisations. In working with others, WHISE understands that all women in our region can benefit as we bring together different capacity and skills to energise primary prevention and health promotion activities and work.
In the words of CEO Kit McMahon, delivered on the night with strength and passion...
WHISE is a gift
that holds space for us to change the world,
to make a difference,
to not have a clue what is going on, what you are doing, or why,
to be strong for the resistance,
to recuperate from the backlash,
to make mistakes,
to find the space to work out how to convince our legislators and regulators that women and men
do not have the same life experience,
not the same journey,
the same pay,
the same sense of safety in this world.
And that we do this TOGETHER.
|
|
|
Head over to our Facebook Album for more photos!
|
|
Three Days with The Women's Spirit Project
Pulling on their hiking boots and high-vis vests, WHISE CEO Kit McMahon and Marketing and Events Officer Jo French just spent a weekend with The Women's Spirit Project (WSP) on their three day adventure challenge from Frankston to Cape Schanck, the Frank to Schank, three day 60 km walk.
Working as Trek Marshalls, Kit and Jo found themselves in all sorts of places around the Mornington Peninsula, with the primary task to make sure walkers stayed on the correct path and to encourage them to make it across the finish line.
'Standing in the middle of bushland at Arthurs Seat, in the rain, offering weary hikers a [lolly] snake and a chance to rest before they climbed down the other side, was a highlight,' said Jo. 'Seeing more than 60 women appear from the bushes, dragging their feet, hot and tired and then suddenly have a burst of energy from our extra loud music and cheering was a thrill.'
The walk is a non-competitive, women only event aimed to inspire and support women from the region to build connections, to take emotional, physical and intellectual risks that build confidence, self-worth and resilience, and it meets its expectations hands-down!
'The atmosphere on the walk is electric,' said Jo. 'Each participant has to dig deep to cross the finish line and the celebrations, the encouragement and the new friendships formed are life-changing. It is such a privilege to be part of the volunteer-power behind this great event.'
This is Kit and Jo's second time on the track with WSP and they are already keen to get their high-vis on again next year.
Check out the Women's Spirit LinkedIn page for more photos and highlights on this exciting event.
|
|
Prevention of Violence Against Women
16 Days of Activism
To help us kick off this year’s 16 Days of Activism campaign, WHISE hosted an online Forum featuring Women with Disabilities Victoria (WDV) and Margins to the Mainstream project from Women’s Health in the East (WHE).
Women with Disabilities Victoria presented Changing the Landscape, an evidence-based national resource to prevent violence against women and girls with disabilities which highlights 6 essential actions that everyone can take to stop violence before it starts.
We also were privileged to hear about Margins to the Mainstream from 6 experts with lived experience of disabilities who co-designed social media tiles and messages for the 16 Days of Activism. The experts shared powerful personal stories of what this project meant to them.
We encourage everyone to look at both resources and use as many of the Margins to the Mainstream social media messages as possible during the 16 Days campaign period (November 25 - December 10).
|
|
WAYSS 16 Days of Activism Morning Tea
|
|
|
Orange cupcakes and coffee were on offer for a morning tea hosted by Wayss: Family Violence and Housing Support for South East Melbourne on 30 November as part of 16 Days of Activism.
WHISE CEO Kit McMahon was the guest speaker and spoke to the team of the importance of the 16 Days for those working in the family violence sector.
‘16 Days is an opportunity to boost our souls, revitalise our brain waves, strengthen ourselves, invigorate our hearts and top up our energy levels with the shared knowledge that it is wrong, unacceptable, painful, intolerable, unbearable, and insufferable that any woman and person should feel themselves in such a place that they have no choice when faced with the perpetration of violence in their own home,’ said Kit.
Wayss is the first point of contact for people experiencing, or who are at risk of, homelessness and/or family violence in Greater Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia.
|
|
WHISE on Community Radio, Southern FM 88.3
On Tuesday 22 November 2022, the team at Community Block invited WHISE to talk about this year’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gendered-Violence campaign on Southern FM 88.3.
|
|
|
|
Presenter Kate Knight speaks with Zoe Francis, Mental Health Lead for WHISE, who is a key player in organising and promoting the campaign.
Learn more about changing the conversation, moving past problematic gender norms and our shared social biases, and see how you can be involved in 16 Days of Activism and beyond.
Listen here: 16 Days of Activism: WHISE on Community Block, Southern FM - WHISE
|
|
Walk Against Family Violence
WHISE staff, Zoe Francis, Mairin Angel and Dani McCaffrey donned their orange caps to add colour and strength to the crowd at the annual Walk Against Family Violence on Tuesday 22 November.
It was the first time since 2019 that the walk was held in person and Dani says, 'the atmosphere was one of cheerful camaraderie. Everyone was glad to be out and seeing colleagues they haven't seen in a long time.'
|
|
|
Sexual & Reproductive Health
|
|
Medibank Data Breach
In response to the latest Medibank data breach, WHISE condemns the weaponisation of private healthcare information, particularly targeting women and people with a uterus who have had abortions.
‘The gross misuse of this personal healthcare data is reprehensible and heinous. Weaponising personal information is horrendous and to do it to target women, to shame them, to hold them hostage, to use it in a way that makes this legal, safe, and common health service something bad is abuse,” said Kit McMahon, CEO WHISE.
Abortion is a safe, common, and legal medical procedure that enables women and people with a uterus to exercise their reproductive rights and autonomy.
Read the full statement here:
WHISE condemns the weaponisation of personal healthcare data targeting those who have had abortions - WHISE
|
|
|
3CR Community Radio 855AM invited WHISE to join them on the Breakfast Show on Tuesday 29 November to discuss the recent Medicare Data Breach . Laura Riccardi, Sexual and Reproductive Health Lead for WHISE chatted with Phuong Tran about the broader implications and impact of the data breach. You can listen to the segment here and the interview is at the 30 minute mark.
|
|
|
Consent Matters: WHISE partners with Sexual Health Victoria to prevent sexual violence
WHISE is delighted to announce a new program, Consent Matters: Professional Mentoring Program for Youth and Community Workers, one of several initiatives funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing to operationalise the Victorian Government's new legislation to prevent sexual violence and enhance young people's knowledge of consent.
This project will be delivered in partnership with Sexual Health Victoria and supported by Women's Health Loddon Mallee, the Multicultural Health Support Service and Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, municipal youth services in the City of Greater Dandenong and Cardinia Shire, the Zoe Belle Gender Collective and the Youth Affairs Council of Victoria.
In the Consent Matters program, youth and community service professionals will be trained to provide primary prevention information, support and resources to young people.
The project will also provide professionals with the skills to respond to disclosures and refer victim-survivors to appropriate support services. Through the delivery of Consent Matters, Sexual Health Victoria and WHISE will improve outcomes for marginalised and at-risk young people who may not have access to the Respectful Relationships program through mainstream schooling.
We are pleased to continue to build our existing partnership to prevent violence and improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes.
|
|
Expressions of Interest - WHISE Menopause Working Group:
To build on the success and momentum of our webinar on menopause, WHISE is initiating a Menopause Working Group to explore opportunities to raise awareness of, and improve healthcare and policy in relation to menopause.
Please email Laura Riccardi, Sexual and Reproductive Health Lead, if you're interested in knowing more.
|
|
Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare:
The Senate is seeking submissions regarding universal access to reproductive healthcare, to address barriers to equitable, timely and responsive care including cost and accessibility of contraceptives, cost and accessibility of reproductive healthcare, including pregnancy care and abortion services across Australia, workforce development options to increase access to reproductive healthcare, sexual and reproductive health literacy, and reproductive health leave for employees.
The Terms of Reference are further outlined online, and submissions are due by 15 December 2022. WHISE is contributing to a collective submission by the Victorian Women's Health Services and submitting an individual submission that addresses issues in the Southern Metropolitan Region.
If you have feedback or ideas for inclusion in the submission, please email Laura Riccardi, Sexual and Reproductive Health Lead.
|
|
After almost 12 years, it's time for Deb Pugsley, our Operations Manager, to move on to a new chapter and we thank Deb for her dedication and contribution to the health promotion and advocacy work of WHISE.
|
|
|
Deb's care and concern for the staff at WHISE was her trademark, and her guidance and support throughout the years is valued by all that have worked with her.
Deb started with WHISE in 2011 and has held various roles during that time, including the position of our unofficial photographer. Deb's photos of our region and staff appear on our website, in reports and in our photo library. Her ability to capture the moment has left us with rich memories of the work and the fun at WHISE.
A highlight for Deb was being involved in Girl Space, a program for school-aged girls between 11-17 who were new arrivals, starting school, and needing that little bit of extra care. The program held in 2013 promoted self-esteem, healthy lifestyle behaviour and positive body image. Deb was there to pick them up from school, take them to do various activities and drive them home safely. She enjoyed connecting with the girls and seeing their confidence grow.
As we say goodbye, it is Deb’s energy and laughter that will be missed in the hallway/on the Zoom screen and her instinct to check in on staff and make sure all is well.
We wish Deb all the very best for the future.
|
|
We would like to welcome several new members to our team:
Danielle (Dani) McCaffrey - Prevention of Violence Against Women Lead
Mairin Angel - Digital Communicaitons Officer
Malkanthi (Maks) Walton - Capacity and Capability Lead
Natalie Opasinis - Women's Health and Engagement Officer
Nimo Hersi - Women's Health and Engagement Officer
Somaye Sharifi - Volunteer Administration
Tara Kortel - Research and Policy Officer
We are thrilled to have them with us and the passion, energy and fresh ideas they bring are truly inspiring.
Stay tuned for a chance to get to know them in our February edition of WHISEWords.
|
|
Christmas Holiday Period Office Hours
The WHISE office will be closed from 5:00 pm Friday 22 December, reopening 9:00 am Tuesday 3 January.
We wish all our partners, members and friends a most wonderful time of rest and joy over the summer.
For many in our sector, the weeks ahead may be a challenging time at work and with that, we offer our deep thanks and stand with you in the continual work for safety for the women and children in our region.
Remember that 1800RESPECT telephone and online counselling service is available for you as well. Take time to ensure you’re looking after yourself, have a look at this checklist. Whether you want to debrief or talk about the personal impact of your work, you can call 1800 737 732 or use the online chat, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
|
|
|
|
