About Us, Gippsland Women's Health Service

About Us

Gippsland Women's Health Service is an independent regional service focused on the health and wellbeing of women of all ages. The service is based on the social model of health and is active in health promotion and advocacy. We provide health information, education and resources and will make referrals when appropriate.

The service is delivered confidentially to all women and professionals throughout the Gippsland Region. We are dedicated to meeting the changing needs of women of all ages and empowering them to optimise all aspects of their health and wellbeing. We are one of three statewide and nine regional women's health services, and belong to the state peak organisation Women's Health Association of Victoria.

Vision

To be recognised as a centre of excellence in women’s health and a leader in the delivery of health promotion programs for women in Gippsland.

To be recognised as a service that attracts broad and successful partnerships throughout Gippsland.

To have a solid and expanded financial base, which will allow Gippsland Women’s Health Service to continue to provide Gippsland women with programs and support .

Mission

To work with women, communities, service providers and Government to promote and enhance the health and well being of women in Gippsland.

Values

Ethical Practice - Transparency, integrity and professionalism at all levels of the Service.
Partnerships - Collaborating and engaging with government, communities and diverse stakeholders.
Inclusion and Equity - Ensuring equitable access for actively engaging with women across Gippsland.
Diversity - Engaging with and celebrating the diversity of women in Gippsland.
Creating and Learning - Being flexible, responsive, innovative and open to change.
Excellence - Continuously improving all aspects of the Service.

Statement of purpose

To maintain a regional Women's Health Service that is community based and run by women for women in the Gippsland Region as defined by the Department of Human Services and amended from time to time
To promote women's health through education and sharing of information, skills and support
To promote a health system that treats women with dignity and respect
To actively encourage and support women in seeking and exercising ultimate control, responsibility and choice in decision-making about their health
To provide health services and programs, which recognise women's whole life span and the various roles that women may have throughout their lives
To ensure that the Association is responsive to the needs of women who experience disadvantage and discrimination
To foster community awareness and action about women's health issues
To promote education and training of health workers to develop awareness of women's health issues
To promote and support ongoing research about women's health issues
To promote awareness of and be responsive to environmental factors affecting women's health
To promote equal access and equity for all women using the health care system
To improve the quality of health care for women by influencing the policy and practice of health and/or related agencies
To engage in charitable and/or benevolent activities which are consistent with these purposes
Through the application of a health promotion framework incorporating the social model of health, prevent illness, disease and injury and promote independence, health and wellbeing using a variety of interventions.

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Staff

The staff at Gippsland Women's Health Service are a team of women committed to the delivery of programs and activities to improve the health and wellbeing of Gippsland women. The team is made up of the following staff:

Council

The GWHS Council has the responsibility for the governance functions of Gippsland Women's Health Service, and is made up of nine women who are members of GWHS. Council oversees the development of the organisation's strategic planning and directions, undertakes decision making at a governance level and works with the Executive Officer to ensure the Service continues to meet strategic and operational objectives.

Key activities include:

Ongoing monitoring of the Strategic Plan
Review and support of Integrated Health Promotion Plan
Overseeing financial management, including budget development, financial reporting and asset management
Legal compliance including funding and service agreements and audit procedures
Participation in professional development opportunities

Members of the Service who meet eligibility requirements can be nominated for vacancies on the Council. The Council consists of nine members and where possible will include members elected from across the region. The term of office for Council Members is two years, with the right to renominate and office over consecutive years with elections occurring at the Annual General Meeting.

Expressions of interest are also invited for shorter term casual vacancies as and when required. Members who may be interested in obtaining further information about GWHS Council are encouraged to contact the Service on (03) 5143 1600 or email eo@gwhealth.asn.au

Members

Any woman who resides, works or studies in the Gippsland region is eligible to be a member of our service. Membership is free and renewed yearly as part of the Annual General Meeting. More information is available here.

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Plans and reports

As part of our planning, legal requirements and health promotion work, we publish a number of documents each year, including strategic plans, health promotion plans, annual reports and program reports. Copies of these are available here.

Our new Strategy Plan for 2008 - 2010 can be found here (PDF 1.2Mb)

Our current Annual Report for 2008-2009 can be found here (PDF 2Mb)

*To view and print the plans and reports you must have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you don't, you can download it free here.

Alternatively you can contact the Service and a hard copy will be forwarded to you.