We provide support services, resources and deliver training, as well as share evidence to influence and shape policy. We are committed to improving the social, emotional and physical health and wellbeing of women throughout their lives. Gender equality is essential to achieve this and underpins everything we do.
Our work is informed by a feminist approach to health promotion and the social determinants of health.
Women living well – healthy, empowered, equal.
We are champions for every Victorian woman's health and wellbeing.
Respect; inclusion; innovation; courage; excellence.
Women’s Health Victoria is a statewide woman’s health promotion, advocacy and support service with a proud history of over 25 years. We are an independent, feminist, not-for-profit organisation.
We advocate and build system capacity for a gendered approach to health that reduces inequalities and improves health outcomes for women.
We collaborate with women, health professionals, researchers, policy makers, service providers and community organisations.
Our health promotion, information and support programs work with and for women, to identify and respond to service gaps and health inequalities in innovative ways.
Our board members, staff and volunteers work to a values-based code of conduct, which sets expectations about our leadership and integrity; our belief in empowerment of others; our belief in equality of opportunities and rights; our feminist commitment to women’s equality and to challenge gender norms, practices and structures.
Read more about what we do, the initiatives implemented, our highlights and achievements each year in our Annual Report.
Our strategic direction focuses on achieving the organisations visions, guided by specific goals. Namely
Improve women’s health and wellbeing through strengthened voice and reach; influence system capacity for women’s equality through research, policy, advocacy and training; influence the capacity and responsiveness of the health system to meet the needs of all women; inform support and empower women and to be a flexible, sustainable and innovative organisation.
VIEW our Strategic Plan
The Victorian women’s health policy and health promotion landscape is strong and active. Victoria leads the nation in providing a network of coordinated women’s health services that cover the entire state. We are one of the nine regional and three statewide services, which are funded as part of the State Government Victorian Women’s Health Program. Read more.
The Victorian Cancer Plan 2016-2020 provides a framework to improve cancer outcomes for all Victorians. It has five priority action areas. Counterpart sits within action area four: wellbeing and support, which includes strengthening supportive care, self-management and Optimal Care Pathways.
Counterpart is one of a range of community based services which support people following a cancer diagnosis. Visit Counterpart for more information.
1800 My Options is the first ever funded information service providing up to date information and options for contraception, pregnancy and sexual health. It is a key initiative funded as part of the Victorian Sexual and Reproductive Health Plan.
Read more information about our 1800 My Options.
Recently Women’s Health Victoria proudly celebrated its 25th anniversary. Arising from the 1993 amalgamation of Healthsharing Women (founded in 1987) and the Women’s Health Resource Collective (established in 1983). These remarkable services led the way for many years in bringing women’s health to the fore, raising awareness about the need for all women to have a voice in their health care and have access to quality information that assisted with making informed choices. Over the past 25 years WHV has been at the centre of many contemporary issues and advances in women’s health and gender equality. Our organisation now boasts an extensive network of staff, volunteers and affiliated health services.
Read more in Highlighting 25 Years of Championing for Women, a snapshot of key WHV achievements, year-by-year, from 1993 to 2018.
Browse through photoboards that have captured special moments and the amazing people that have been involved with WHV becoming champions for women.
Enjoy watching the highlights video showcasing WHV’s work and people over the last 25 years.
We look forward to working with our partners and members to build on past achievements and continue to ensure that every woman in Victoria lives well – healthy, empowered and equal.
Women’s Health Victoria acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.