Women's Centre for Health Matters

Quality matters – local matters

Women’s Health Matters is an independent, non-partisan think tank that works to improve the health and wellbeing of women in the ACT and surrounding region.

We advocate on behalf of all ACT women, especially those experiencing disadvantage and vulnerability.

We seek to improve the health and wellbeing of anyone who identifies as a woman.

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Knowing Communicating Influencing Empowering women in Doing what matters!

Women’s Health Matters is committed to reconciliation and acknowledges the First Australians whose cultures are among the oldest living cultures in human history, as the traditional custodians of this continent. We also recognise the history of dispossession experienced by the First Australians and the impact this has and continues to have on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. We recognise the Ngunnawal People as the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise the strength of Aboriginal women and their continuing connection and contribution to this land, these waters, and our communities. May we walk gently and treat the earth and each other with care and respect.

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Canberra’s female prisoners move out of the men’s high security wing and back into their cottages

Female detainees will finally be moved back into cottages that were designed to accommodate them.

For three years, women were previously housed in a wing designed for high-security male prisoners.

After extensive advocacy, we are proud to have been a part of the process of implementing change and being a voice for women in prison.

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

4 days ago

PTSD is real for NICU parents. It's not just a mental health disorder associated with military veterans. This week is #birthtraumaawarenessweek2021. The theme this year is #betterhealing. Healing after birth-related trauma looks differently to everyone and could include accessing appropriate care, getting a diagnosis, support from loved ones, peer support, debriefing and a lot of careful planning for the recovery process.Please see Australasian Birth Trauma Association - ABTA for more information on how to #starttheconversation and #stopthestigma.#postnataldepression #postnatalanxiety #postpartumanxiety #postnatalptsd #birthtraumahealingToday marks the beginning of Birth Trauma Awareness Week 2021. This years theme is 'better healing'.What is better healing? Over the week we'll be sharing messages from members of our community about what better healing means to them.We would like to know what better healing means to you. Have you found help to assist your recovery after birth-related trauma?What was the catalyst for help? Who?What would help would you have liked?Please help us #stopthestigma and #starttheconversation this #birthtraumaawarenessweek2021. ... See MoreSee Less

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

4 days ago

Are you aged 30-39? Get ready to roll up your sleeves!From today you can register for a COVID-19 vaccination appointment at an ACT Government clinic. Once registered, you’ll be sent a notification when appointments become available. This will be when our supply of Pfizer vaccine increases. It’s important to know that you may still need to wait some weeks for your appointment.You can register online by signing up to MyDHR at www.mydhr.act.gov.au and answering the eligibility questionnaire (you’ll need to have a current Medicare card that matches an existing patient record in the ACT public health system).If you’re unable to register online, call the COVID-19 vaccine booking line on (02) 5124 7700. The line operates from 7am to 7pm daily. Use the call back system to save waiting on the line. For more information visit www.covid19.act.gov.au/vaccine ... See MoreSee Less

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

7 days ago

We are excited to bring a special screening of 'Conquering Cancer' to Canberra on Tuesday 31 August, 7pm at Palace Electric!Conquering Cancer is a definitive feature documentary with a soaring ambition: to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer for every women and girl. It is a passionate appeal from experts, activists and survivors. A vivid, poetic and searing plea for action. Travelling from Australia to Malaysia; Zambia to the USA; Colombia to Switzerland, Conquering Cancer declares a deep divide. Just as we are buoyed by the innovations paving the way to global elimination, we are confronted with the health and economic grip cervical cancer is having on the world’s poorest women.fan-force.com/screenings/conquering-cancer-palace-electric/?fbclid=IwAR16p-xDJOH6AHjA3UuQLh2DWGTG... ... See MoreSee Less

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

2 weeks ago

“It made my life healthier…”Earlier this year Women’s Health Matters undertook an evaluation of the Capital Chicks CANberra (CCC) initiative. The CCC initiative is a virtual ‘smart health community’ funded by ACT Health which commenced in June last year. The initiative’s aim was to bring together Canberra women to turn the health of Canberra around, one step at a time.Diabetes NSW & ACT engaged with us because of our expertise understanding and knowing women’s health and wellbeing in the ACT.The evaluation of the CCC initiative involved undertaking a consultation with CCC members to seek how joining the CCC platform had impacted their health and wellbeing. We sought to know if they had changed their understanding of the health impacts of gestational (GDM) and type 2 diabetes and if they had undertaken any positive behaviour changes.The evaluation found that women joined CCC to improve their health, to find health information specific to them and connect with local women and services. They reported improvements in their awareness of lifestyle factors that influence GDM and type 2 diabetes, had identified and made changes to their behaviour and were able to manage their health better.Although they did not feel particularly connected to other local women they reported that they would recommend the CCC initiative to a friend.Additionally, responses highlighted the need to investigate the useability of the website and mobile application to make it more user friendly. You can read the evaluation here www.womenshealthmatters.org.au/our-services/evaluation/ ... See MoreSee Less

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

2 weeks ago

✅Free Pelvic Floor Workshops – for prevention / improvement of continence problems.✅Women of all ages are invited to attend this free workshop presented by a Physiotherapist from Canberra Health Services.✅This workshop will provide information, education and self-help strategies for women who are experiencing continence problems or wishing to prevent them. ✅The workshops will cover issues relating to:• Bladder and bowel control/incontinence.• Bladder and bowel prolapse. • Concerns pre/post gynaecological surgery.Tuesday 3rd August 2021, Gungahlin Community Health Centre, 57 Ernest Cavanagh Street, Gungahlin1.00pm – 4.00pm (3 hour session)Bookings are essential: Please contact the Community Heath Intake Team on (02) 5124 9977. ... See MoreSee Less

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Women's Centre for Health Matters

2 weeks ago

“I’d like to see a generational shift that means our young people no longer have to live with that pervasive feeling of not being good enough to expect the same treatment as non-Indigenous people,” Mandandanji woman Cara Kirkwood is looking to the future. A future where young First Nations people no longer have to navigate the germ that is racism. Click on link for full article.the-riotact.com/naidoc-week-a-time-of-mixed-emotions-and-reflection-on-the-task-at-hand/474863 ... See MoreSee Less

NAIDOC Week: a time of mixed emotions and reflection on the task at hand | The RiotACT

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Mandandanji woman Cara Kirkwood is looking to the future. A future where young First Nations people no longer have to...

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We give voice to the voiceless. We make the invisible visible.

Women do health differently. Our research and advocacy is informed by women for women.

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Quality matters – local matters

Knowing Communicating Influencing Empowering women in Doing what matters!

News

Canberra’s female prisoners move out of the men’s high security wing and back into their cottages

Facebook posts

We give voice to the voiceless. We make the invisible visible.

Women do health differently. Our research and advocacy is informed by women for women.

Supported by ACT Health Directorate