Media Release: 24 February 2009

Celebrating 21 years of women's health in the west

Around 120 women from across the western region will gather at the Key to the Future: Unlocking 21 Years of Women's Stories forum to celebrate International Women's Day and Women's Health West's 21st birthday. This is the eighth International Women's Day celebration for Women's Health West and we invite past and present staff, board members and partner agencies to gather for lunch, laughter and stories of women's health, safety and wellbeing in the west.

"International Women's Day is a major day of global celebration for the social and political achievements of women and a terrific time to celebrate the importance of working together to achieve change for women," says Women's Health West Chief Executive Officer, Dr Robyn Gregory.

Key to the future: unlocking 21 years of women's stories features panellists including Kim Webster. Currently a Senior Program Advisor at VicHealth, Kim was a founding member of Women's Health West. In 1987, Kim's house was the headquarters for those writing the tender to establish this women's health service.

"Statistically, women are more likely than men to be poor, unemployed, victims of domestic violence, to be single parents, to work in low status jobs, to have poor working conditions and to work the double shifts of paid work in the home and unpaid work within it," said Maureen Dawson-Smith, Women's Health Service Chairperson, at the 1988 opening.

"Despite overall improvements in the status of women over the last 21 years, these statistics, sadly, remain true today. But we haven't lost any of our passion for working to improve the gender and structural inequalities that limit the lives of women in the west," says Dr Gregory.

Participants will examine the history of women's health in the west and plan for the future through a series of interactive workshops that involve sharing anecdotes and experiences using creative writing, collage and visualisation of the Women's Health West 'woman'.

Stories from the day will be collated with archival material, statistics and interviews to create a book outlining the history of Women's Health West, to be launched in November 2009.

The free forum will be facilitated by the hilarious Nelly Thomas, who uses comedy to promote important social messages, especially those relating to health.

"Women's Health West would love to hear from women who have worked at, or in partnership with, this organisation at any time during the last 21 years," says Dr Gregory.

Key to the future: unlocking 21 years of women's stories will run from 12-4pm on Thursday 5 March 2009 at the Moonee Valley Clocktower Centre, 750 Mt Alexander Road, Moonee Ponds. Interested women can call 9689 9588 or email recp@whwest.org.au to RSVP by Thursday 26 February 2009.

MEDIA CONTACT

MEDIA: For more information contact Nicola Harte, Communications Co-ordinator on 9689 9588 or email nicolah@whwest.org.au

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