Women's Health East

Call Directions Website

Women's Health East Equality, empowerment, health and wellbeing for all women In addition Women's Health East receives funding for specific projects.

Women’s Health East is a regional women’s health promotion agency working across the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. We work with stakeholders to build the capacity of services and programs in the region to ensure they optimally address issues affecting women. Women’s Health East works predominantly in gender-based health promotion, which involves:

- Providing leadership around women’s health issues of regional significance and facilitating integrated responses
- Working in partnership with local governments, health and community agencies and other stakeholders to promote gender-based health promotion and service delivery, and to improve service system access and responsiveness for women
- Shaping responses to the promotion of women’s health and wellbeing through research, advocacy and consultancy
- Providing information and advice to key stakeholders in order to raise awareness of health and wellbeing issues experienced by women and to promote women’s health and wellbeing
- Delivering training and education programs for our partner organisations on women's health issues and gender sensitivity in planning and service delivery. Women’s Health East also works directly with women in order to ground our work and to:

- Understand women’s health and wellbeing issues
- Support and strengthen our health promotion
- Identify and inform responses to service system gaps

The organisation is a not-for-profit incorporated association, and receives the majority of its funding through the Department of Health. This funding comes from a variety of sources including philanthropic trusts, community grants and other areas of government including local government. To view our Community Guidelines for Facebook, click here: https://www.facebook.com/notes/womens-health-east/community-guidelines/492680197472369

Cost should never determine whether someone can access timely, high-quality abortion care.We warmly welcome the commitme...
16/10/2026

Cost should never determine whether someone can access timely, high-quality abortion care.

We warmly welcome the commitment to make abortion care free in Victoria. This is a significant step towards improving access to essential healthcare and reducing financial barriers for women and gender diverse people across the state.

While there is more work to do to address workforce, service availability and geographic barriers, this commitment will make a real difference for people seeking care and help ensure access is based on need, not ability to pay.

This is an important step towards a more equitable health system and ensuring reproductive healthcare is accessible to everyone who needs it.

Julie-Ann is a victim survivor advocate whose courage, honesty and expertise have helped shape stronger responses to fam...
07/10/2026

Julie-Ann is a victim survivor advocate whose courage, honesty and expertise have helped shape stronger responses to family and gender-based violence across Victoria.

Drawing on her lived experience of child abuse, domestic violence and sexual assault, Julie-Ann brings a deep understanding of what it means to navigate the service system, rebuild after violence and support the long-term recovery of women and children.

Based in Melbourne’s east, Julie-Ann is a member of Victoria’s Victim Survivors’ Advisory Council and has contributed extensively to the Regional Family Violence Partnership Implementation Committee and Women’s Health East’s Margins to the Mainstream advocacy group.

Through this work, she has helped bring greater attention to the experiences of women with disability and the systemic barriers that can prevent victim survivors from accessing safety, support and justice.

At Ten Years On: The Future of Family Violence Prevention and Response in Melbourne’s East, Julie-Ann shared her experience of coercive control, leaving violence and the long and complex process of recovery.

“The moment I walked out that door, I became homeless. There was no other option. And this shouldn’t be the case, because this is what keeps you there.”

Her words speak to a reality faced by far too many victim survivors: leaving violence does not automatically mean reaching safety.

Without access to secure housing, financial support and properly funded specialist services, women and children can be forced to choose between homelessness and remaining in an unsafe home.

Julie-Ann also spoke about recovery and the change she can now see across generations: watching her son become a respectful man and father, and her granddaughter grow up with greater freedom from the rigid gender expectations that shaped Julie-Ann’s own childhood.

Her story reminds us that recovery is possible, but it requires time, safety and sustained support. It also shows why victim survivors must be recognised not only for what they have experienced, but as experts whose knowledge is essential to designing better policies, services and systems.

We are deeply grateful to Julie-Ann for sharing her expertise with us and for continuing to advocate for a future in which every woman and child can live safely, recover fully and move forward on their own terms.

For more than 30 years, Dr Joumanah El-Matrah has worked to advance human rights, gender equality and systemic reform.As...
06/10/2026

For more than 30 years, Dr Joumanah El-Matrah has worked to advance human rights, gender equality and systemic reform.

As CEO of , Dr El-Matrah combines leadership experience with frontline knowledge. A psychologist, she has supported victim survivors of family, gender-based and sexual violence and understands the systems intended to support them.

Previously, as CEO of the Australian Muslim Women’s Centre for Human Rights, she led initiatives grounded in intersectional feminist practice. She champions culturally responsive, community-led approaches that centre victim survivors and address barriers to safety, justice and equity.

At Ten Years On: The Future of Family Violence Prevention and Response in Melbourne’s East, Dr El-Matrah reflected on Victoria’s progress and the collective effort behind it.

Victoria has developed stronger specialist services, partnerships and prevention infrastructure, supported by regional collaboration in Melbourne’s east. This progress matters, but it cannot be taken for granted.

As Dr El-Matrah reminded us, responding to violence is essential, but response alone will not create the future we are working towards.

“If our goal is to end family and gender-based violence, we must reduce the number of people who ever need these services. So the next 10 years, the next chapter must be on prevention.”

Primary prevention addresses the conditions that allow violence to occur, including gender inequality, rigid gender stereotypes, discrimination and unequal power.

At a time of growing online misogyny, backlash and resistance to gender equality, sustained investment has never been more important.

Family and gender-based violence is not inevitable. It is predictable, and it is preventable.

The next decade must strengthen specialist services, listen to victim survivors and invest in evidence-based work that stops violence before it begins.

We thank Dr El-Matrah for sharing her expertise and vision, and for challenging us to remain ambitious about the change still possible.

For more than 20 years, Kate Phillips has worked alongside communities, organisations and leaders across Victoria to imp...
05/10/2026

For more than 20 years, Kate Phillips has worked alongside communities, organisations and leaders across Victoria to improve health equity, advance gender equality and create meaningful, lasting change.

Kate joined Women’s Health East as CEO in August 2025, bringing extensive experience across the women’s health and family violence prevention sectors. This includes six years as Independent Chair of the Eastern Regional Family Violence Partnership, leading primary prevention projects at Our Watch and overseeing health promotion, evaluation, governance and strategy as General Manager – Gender Equity at GenWest.

More recently, Kate joined the Women’s Health Services Network Executive as Co-Deputy Chair, continuing her commitment to collective advocacy and a stronger, more equitable future for women and gender diverse people across Victoria.

At Ten Years On: The Future of Family Violence Prevention and Response in Melbourne’s East, Kate drew on this deep sector and regional experience to reflect on how far we have come, the partnerships that have made progress possible and the urgent work that remains.

Across Melbourne’s eastern region, 10,812 family violence incidents were recorded in 2024–25. Around 40% of these incidents involved a child being present.

Behind every number is a person, a family and a community. These figures remind us that while significant progress has been made over the past decade, our work is far from finished.

As Kate shared: “When we listen to victim survivors, and act on what they tell us, change happens.”

Listening to victim survivors must remain at the centre of reform. But listening must be followed by meaningful action, strong accountability and sustained investment in the specialist services, partnerships and prevention infrastructure our communities rely on.

The progress made across Melbourne’s east has been built collectively: through the leadership of victim survivors, the commitment of specialist services and the determination of people working across government, health, community services and primary prevention.

Protecting that progress will require the same collective commitment.

“We have built momentum and we can’t afford to lose it. We must be relentless in our pursuit of change.”

Women’s Health East will continue working with our partners to strengthen prevention, advocate for systemic change and build a future in which all women and children can live safely, equally and free from violence.

Abortion care is healthcare.This International Safe Abortion Day, we join advocates around the world in calling for safe...
28/09/2026

Abortion care is healthcare.

This International Safe Abortion Day, we join advocates around the world in calling for safe, timely, affordable, confidential and stigma-free abortion care for everyone who needs it.

Access should not depend on a person’s postcode, income, language, disability, cultural background or identity. It requires strong and accessible health systems, trained providers, clear referral pathways and accurate, evidence-based information.

Creating meaningful change is a shared responsibility.

- Governments must invest in accessible, community-based services.
- Funders and institutions must recognise abortion as essential healthcare.
- Technology companies must protect access to accurate reproductive health information.
- Civil society, advocates and allies must continue to challenge stigma, hold systems accountable and advance reproductive justice.

We work alongside health services, community organisations and local partners across Melbourne’s east to strengthen referral pathways, improve access to trusted information and support a more equitable sexual and reproductive healthcare system.

This September 28, we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring women, girls and gender diverse people can make decisions about their bodies and reproductive lives with dignity, autonomy, safety and support.

Together, we can build the conditions for reproductive freedom and make comprehensive abortion care accessible to all.

27/09/2026

Ten years on from the Royal Commission into Family Violence, and ahead of the Victorian state election, it's a timely moment to take stock. Last Friday, we hosted the event Ten Years On: The Future of Family Violence Prevention and Response in Melbourne's East, and we asked attendees to share what they took away from the day.

Across their reflections, one message was clear: our sector has the knowledge, experience and commitment to create change. What we need now is sustained investment and collective action.

We heard calls for:
- Secure, long-term funding for prevention, response and community-led programs
- Stronger partnerships between education settings and community services
- Greater investment in recovery, safe housing and perpetrator accountability
- Culturally responsive and accessible approaches for culturally, linguistically and racially marginalised communities
- Continued collaboration across government, health, legal, education and community sectors

Ten years on, there is strong momentum - but the work is not finished. We must keep moving forward with urgency to prevent family violence, respond effectively and build safer, more equal communities.

Thank you to Katie McKee, Dilnaz Billimoria, Aimy Skym, Ann Yeomanson, Heather Cole, Shima Ibuki, Cr Elisha Lee and Michael Smith for sharing their reflections. Presented by Together for Equality and Respect (TFER) and the Eastern Metropolitan Regional Family Violence Partnership (RFVP), with support from Women's Health East. Special thanks to the Eastern Regional Group of Councils (ERG).

We’re excited to introduce the speakers joining us for the second session in our Sport & Gender Equality in Melbourne’s ...
20/09/2026

We’re excited to introduce the speakers joining us for the second session in our Sport & Gender Equality in Melbourne’s East Community of Practice series.

On Tuesday 29 September, we’ll hear from:

- Cassie Lindsey from Red Consulting and Training, exploring how good intentions can be translated into practical and sustainable gender equality action across sport.
- Megan Harper, Sports Inclusion Officer at City of Whittlesea, sharing insights from the GE3 project and Fair Access approach, including responding to resistance and supporting lasting change within sporting clubs.
- Maddie Williams, Women and Girls Experience Coordinator at AFL Victoria, discussing the AFL Women & Girls Charter, Gender Equality Education Program and opportunities to advance gender equality across community football.

Together, our speakers will share practical programs, partnerships and approaches supporting gender equality and the prevention of gender based violence across sport and recreation.

📅 Tuesday 29 September 2026

⏰ 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

💻 Online and free

Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/gPBlZfSyR_6ik_mzG_2nGg

If this content raises anything for you, 1800RESPECT is available on 1800 737 732, 24 hours a day.

Women’s experiences of the health system must be heard, valued and used to create change.The Senate Select Committee on ...
17/09/2026

Women’s experiences of the health system must be heard, valued and used to create change.

The Senate Select Committee on Women’s Health is inviting submissions from individuals, families, health professionals, experts and community organisations across Australia.

The inquiry will examine issues including:

- Experiences of postpartum care
- Women’s pain and medical misogyny
- Access to appropriate and affordable care
- Fertility and assisted reproduction
- The regulation of medical devices used in women’s healthcare

Your submission does not need to be long or written in formal language. It can be as simple as sharing your experience of what worked, what did not and what you believe needs to change.

You can also find information about privacy and confidentiality through the committee website. Only share what feels safe and right for you.

At Women’s Health East, we know that lived experience is essential to creating a health system that is equitable, accessible and responsive to the needs of all women.

This is an important opportunity to put those experiences on the public record and help shape the future of women’s health in Australia.

Submissions close 9 October 2026.

Learn more and make a submission:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Womens_Health/WomensHealth

Last Wednesday, we welcomed Zoe Belle Gender Collective to facilitate a training session for the Together For Equality &...
16/09/2026

Last Wednesday, we welcomed Zoe Belle Gender Collective to facilitate a training session for the Together For Equality & Respect partnership on trans and gender diverse inclusion in primary prevention.

The session brought together 20 participants from five local councils and seven partner organisations spanning community health, healthcare, youth services, legal services, family violence prevention and response.

As one participant shared: “So many useful tools, examples and resources. A really rich and generous training opportunity.”

Facilitators Mill and Rory created a generous and practical learning space, supporting participants to build their confidence, strengthen active allyship and consider how their organisations can be more inclusive of trans and gender diverse people.

Participants reflected on:

- Practical ways to encourage active allyship across organisations
- Better acknowledging and recording pronouns
- Strengthening the connection between gender based violence prevention and LGBTQIA+ inclusion
- Managing resistance and potential backlash
- Making intake processes and organisational practices more gender inclusive

Thank you to Mill, Rory and Zoe Belle Gender Collective for sharing your knowledge and expertise, and to everyone who joined us and contributed so thoughtfully to the session. 💜

We’re hiring a Workforce and Partnerships Coordinator to join our team 💜This permanent 0.8 FTE role is an opportunity to...
15/09/2026

We’re hiring a Workforce and Partnerships Coordinator to join our team 💜

This permanent 0.8 FTE role is an opportunity to:
• Turn evidence into practical action
• Develop and deliver training, resources and capacity building initiatives
• Strengthen intersectional primary prevention practice
• Support Together for Equality and Respect, our regional prevention partnership
• Build collaboration and collective action across Melbourne’s east

We would love to hear from collaborative and organised practitioners who understand gender equality and the primary prevention of gender based violence, enjoy bringing people together and are passionate about building the capability of others to create meaningful change.

📍 Doncaster East
🕒 Permanent, 0.8 FTE
🏠 Flexible hybrid working available

Learn more and apply via https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/WHE/workforce-and-partnerships-coordinator

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disability, women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and LGBTIQA+ women, including trans women and gender diverse people.

Address

1/125 George Street
Melbourne, VIC
3109

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61398513700

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Women's Health East posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Sponsored

Share

Category