1. “Empowering women and children to make informed choices”
CENTRAL WEST
Women’s
Health Centre
“Empowering women and children to make informed choices”

2. What does the Central West Women’s Health Centre stand for?
We provide a unique, holistic women-centred preventative and treatment approach to health and well-being to empower women and children from all cultures to make informed choices throughout their lives.

3. We are located at 20 William Street, Bathurst

4. Who are we?
Central West Women’s Health Centre is a community-based, non-government organisation run by women for women, established 29 October 1986.
Services are provided with funding assistance from Western NSW Local Health District, NSW Department of Family & Community Services and donations from the community

5. Our History
The lobbying of women from all walks of life and from all over Australia for more respectful and empowering health services for women, resulted in Federal Funding from the Whitlam Government for women’s health.
Our organisation stemmed from the Women’s Health Movement from the 1970’s onwards during the second wave of Australian Feminism.

6. A visit by the NSW Women's Advisory Council on April 1984 saw the formation of the Women's Health Group.
The Women's Health Group aimed to give choice for women and their health checks. Rather than the option being solely for reproductive issues, this health group created a type of healthcare that embraced women's physical, mental, emotional and social health. And later became the Central West Women’s Health Centre.

7. Roles and philosophy of women's health care
All Women’s Health Care Centres share some common principles and philosophies about their purpose. These come under five broad categories:
Principles of women’s health care
Social model of health
Feminist perspective
Gendered approach; and
Empowerment

8. Women’s health principles recognise:
That health is determined by a broad range of social, environmental, economic and biological factors.
Differences in health status and health objectives are linked to gender, age, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, location and environment, racism, sex-role stereotyping, gender inequality and discrimination, ageism, sexuality and sexual preferences.
Health promotion, disease prevention, equity of access to appropriate and affordable services and strengthening the primary health care system are necessary, along with high quality illness treatment services.
Information, consultation, advocacy and community development are important elements of the health process.

9. How we make a difference
“Our early intervention, prevention and treatment approaches assist with reducing future health costs by addressing the many underlying issues that lead to adverse mental and physical health conditions if not treated appropriately.”

10. What we prioritise Healthy Lifestyle Nutrition & Physical Activity
Women with disability
Women with caring responsibility
Health Promotion
Chronic Disease
Mental Health & Social Wellbeing
Sexual Heath
Responses to Violence
Sexual
Domestic
Family

11. Please watch this YouTube clip about “Changing the Story” of violence against women in Australian society. outu.be

12. How we achieve this
Providing a trauma specialist service with a variety of approaches.
Educating women and children. In particular vulnerable and disadvantaged women & children.
Providing a safe place for women and children to access services.
Advocating for and supporting women from a feminist perspective.
Through striving to achieve our long term goals.

13. What does the Central West Women’s Health Centre do?
General practice service for women specific health issues
Counselling & Psychology
Child and Adolescent Trauma Service
Massage Therapy
Reflexology
Courses & Workshops
Well-Being Activities

14. Our goals
At Central West Women’s Health Centre we are working toward four goals which we strive to achieve in the coming years.
Goal 1 – Provide quality services that are responsive to community needs.
Goal 2 - Increase our long term sustainability by developing diverse sources of funding.
Goal 3 - Strengthen and maintain community awareness of the Centre and the services provided.
Goal 4 - Strengthen effective governance through leadership, mutual accountability and ethical conduct.

15. Our governance
The Central West Women’s Health Centre is an organisation governed by a volunteer Board voted in at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the members of the organisation. October 2016 marked our 30th AGM and year in Bathurst.

16. Our website - www.cwwhc.org.au
Governance
CWWHC Constitution
CWWHC Strategic Plan
CWWHC Annual Report
CWWHC Financial Report
Summary of our Programs
Bringing up Great Kids
Eight Stage Healing Process for Women Survivors of Abuse
Exploring Loss in Life
Introducing Mindfulness
Living Well with Chronic Illness
Making a Difference to Domestic/Family Violence in our Community
Midlife Metamorphosis
Mother’s & Daughter’s (Puberty Matters)
Many more…

17. How to contact the Central West Women’s Health Centre
PO Box 674, 20 William Street, Bathurst, NSW 2795
Phone:
Fax:
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