Summary of the Health Promotion and Preventing Violence Against Women Conference

The "Health Promotion and Preventing Violence Against Women: What does it really mean?" conference and action day was held on Tuesday 6 June 2006 at the Royal Women's Hospital, Grattan Street in Carlton

Violence against women is a significant risk factor for the health and mental well being of women. A recent report by VicHealth identified it as the leading contributor to death, disability and illness in Victorian women aged 15 to 44.

On the 6th June 2006 over one hundred and sixty five men and women attended the Health Promotion and Preventing Violence Against Women conference held at the Royal Women's Hospital to discuss this major public health crisis.

The conference was organized by Women's Health West in collaboration with the Primary Care Partnerships (PCP) in the Western Region and with the support of Women's Health in the North.

The Honourable Joan Kirner, former Premier of Victoria and a champion for women's rights, officially launched the conference, establishing why violence against women should be a priority of health reform.

Plenary speakers included Kim Webster from VicHealth, Robyn Gregory from Women's Health West and Wei Leng Kwok from Women's Health in the North each contributing to our understanding of how violence impacts on women's health and well-being and providing evidence of research and action suggesting that prevention is possible.

A total of eleven workshops were offered to conference participants each identifying different health promotion actions that could be undertaken with different population groups within private as well as public sector organizations. Guest speakers included Omeima Sukkarieh from Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Jacqui Croxon and Lucy Midolo from Wyndham City Council, Phil Cooper, Chair of the Indigenous Family Violence Action Group, Eloise Bishop from the Body Shop and Chris Jennings from Domestic Violence and Incest Resource Centre. Click here for more information on conference workshops.

A key achievement of the day was the commencement of a Western Regional Strategy aimed at the prevention of violence against women. The strategy gives priority to the development of health promotion actions and will be operational for the period 2006 - 2009.

Please refer to the conference report for further information.

If you would like to know more about the conference you can contact Theresa Lynch on 9689 9588 or via email.

Click here if you are interested in research that Women's Health West is conducting in this and other areas.

Or Click here if you'd like some links to further family violence information.