Promoting And Celebrating Optimal Sexual And Reproductive Health (SRH)
Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services is a fundamental right for every woman. From participating in communities of practice, to presenting in a variety of forums, WHISE has been able to reach a larger audience and promote awareness regarding the importance of sexual and reproductive health in our community.
A major highlight for WHISE in 2021-2022 was the launch of the new Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy: Good Health Down South 2022. The Strategy identifies the key sexual and reproductive health issues facing women and people across the region and priority populations that experience a disproportionate burden of poor health outcomes due to structural inequities.
Good Health Down South Strategy
Good Health Down South is a four-year region-wide strategy that promotes, celebrates and guides future directions that continuously improve sexual and reproductive health outcomes throughout the Southern Metropolitan Region.
Development of Year Three and Four Action Plan for Good Health Down South 2021 – 2025:
Following the successful implementation of our Year One and Two Action Plan, WHISE led a robust consultation with partners and stakeholders in the regional bimonthly sexual and reproductive health network, Good Health Down South, to determine areas for strengthening and key priorities for the subsequent Action Plan. After feedback and validation from stakeholders, this was published in June 2023 and work has begun to deliver activities to address cervical screening, perimenopause and menopause, affirmative consent, endometriosis, and other issues.
Professional Development Sessions: Sexual and Reproductive Health for Youth Services
In partnership with Sexual Health Victoria and Youth Services across the Southern Metropolitan Region, WHISE delivered three professional development events for youth service workers in July, August, and September 2022.
The sessions were successful in increasing the knowledge and skills of youth and community services professionals. It enabled them to support and empower young people regarding their sexual health, including:
- understanding the medical and legal aspects of young people seeking advice and support with their sexual health
- identifying STI and BBV transmission pathways
- harm minimisation strategies and applying these to working with young people
- identifying the various methods of contraceptiondescribe their uses including the prevention of pregnancy
- management of troublesome bleeding
- providing non-directive pregnancy support for young people including abortion, adoption and continuation of pregnancy.
Sexual and Reproductive Health Week
WHISE has played a key role in designing and supporting implementation of the following health promotion campaigns for women’s health across the network of WHS in Victoria.
The Victorian Women's Health Services developed content to acknowledge World Contraception Day and International Safe Abortion Day in September 2022, as part of our annual Sexual and Reproductive Health Week social media campaign. In 2022, the campaign focused on highlighting safe and legal access to abortion considering the overturning of Roe v Wade in the United States.
The content posted across WHISE’s social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn) was shared, reposted, and retweeted by the Good Health Down South Network.
Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare
WHISE led a submission into the Senate Inquiry into Universal Access to Reproductive Healthcare on behalf of our regional sexual and reproductive health partnership, Good Health Down South.
Our submission highlighted the need for enhanced access to local, low-cost, or free sexual and reproductive health services, including long-acting reversible contraception and abortion provision, through sustainable and long-term funding for the Sexual and Reproductive Health Hubs, and the need to review and amend Medicare coverage, funding models and the other system enablers to ensure ready access to services.
WHISE was invited by the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs on Universal Access to Reproductive Health to present our key recommendations.
Menopause
Hot topic: a free public webinar on menopause and how to manage
In September 2022, WHISE delivered a webinar on perimenopause and menopause. Over 250 people registered to hear from a panel of key knowledge experts comprising, Dr Fatima Khan from the Epworth Hospital, Jodie Belyea, the Managing Director of the Women's Spirit Project and Mary Crooks, Executive Director of the Victorian Women's Trust.
The webinar was successful in increasing participants’ knowledge of menopause, and its impacts on physical and mental health and wellbeing, including sexual health, their understanding of the impacts of menopause on employment and experiences in the workplace, and support and symptom management options for menopause, including different treatment options available.
SOCIAL VALUE IMPACT
Program Name : Hot Topic: A Public webinar on menopause and how to manage
Net Social Benefit to Community : $859,454.
The net benefit per participant is $7,162.
Benefit Cost Ratio 176.58
It is assumed that the benefits last for 12 months minimum as resources were provided as well as attendees having peer group support from WHISE and the partners supporting the webinar.
Benefits lasted: 12 months.
Social Impact as calculated through the Australia Social Value Bank for the delivery of the Critical Friends Network.
The values used in this cost benefit analysis have been derived using the wellbeing valuation method from data gathered through the HILDA (Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) and Journeys Home Survey.
Menopause Working Group
Following the success of the webinar on menopause, WHISE established a working group in November 2022, to deliver two defined projects in 2023 to improve the outcomes of women and gender diverse people experiencing menopause and perimenopause.
The program of work was developed from feedback provided by partners and participants in the webinar and includes the development of a case study of an organisation or multiple organisations that have implemented menopause workplace policies, publication forthcoming in October 2023, and the delivery of menopause and perimenopause education sessions for community, and workplaces.
We received expressions of interest from over 20 organisations for the delivery of a session and by the end of September 2023, will have successfully delivered 17 sessions both online and in-person.
Menopause Information Sessions
A total of 20 menopause information sessions were scheduled across the Southern Metropolitan Region for delivery in June, July, August, and September 2023, with three sessions scheduled in June 2023.
These sessions, developed as part of the program of work led by the menopause working group, aim to increase community knowledge and awareness of:
- perimenopause and menopause and associated symptoms
- the impacts of menopause on physical and mental health and wellbeing
- options for management and self-management of menopausal symptoms including hormone replacement therapy
- improve participants’ confidence in discussing menopause and its impacts with family, friends, health professionals and colleagues to improve help-seeking behaviours.
The menopause information sessions have been delivered in partnership with Peninsula Health, Monash Health Community and Women's Health Loddon Mallee, and WHISE would like to acknowledge and thank Cathy Halmarick, Stacey Zaranyika and Gabrielle Mentz in particular for their work.
Case Study on Workplace Policy for Menopause
Due for publication in October 2023, this project seeks to profile organisations or multiple organisations that have successfully implemented or are implementing workplace policies to support employees experiencing perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms. The case study highlights promising practice as well as capturing the challenges and barriers, enablers, and success of developing and implementing menopause workplace policies.
An Introduction to Reproductive Coercion and Primary Prevention
In February 2023, WHISE delivered a webinar on reproductive coercion, as part of our efforts to improve sexual and reproductive health and prevent violence against women, with148 participants registering to learn about a form of gender-based violence incorporating behaviours designed to control pregnancy and reproductive health outcomes, termed reproductive coercion.
The session featured a panel of knowledge experts including Associate Professor Laura Tarzia from the University of Melbourne, Desireé LaGrappe from La Trobe University, Helen Freris from Women with Disabilities Victoria, and the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health.
A Webinar on PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and the Weight of Stigma
SOCIAL VALUE IMPACT:
Program Name : PCOS and Weight of Stigma - online forum
Net Benefit to Community : $27,259.
The net benefit per participant is $3,407.
Benefit Cost Ratio : 2.24
Social Impact as calculated through the Australia Social Value Bank for the delivery of the Critical Friends Network.
The values used in this cost benefit analysis have been derived using the wellbeing valuation method from data gathered through the HILDA (Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) and Journeys Home Survey.
In June 2023, WHISE delivered an online information session on polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), featuring Dr Rhonda Garad from Monash University and the City of Greater Dandenong council, as well as a lived experience speaker, Kira, from Beautiful, Talented, Deadly, an online platform from which they raise awareness about health issues including PCOS and mental health.
The session was designed to bridge the gap in understanding of PCOS among healthcare providers, community, and youth workers, and those personally affected by the condition. The webinar debunked common myths and explored comprehensive care options.
This event was timed to coincide with the forthcoming release of new diagnostic and management guidelines for PCOS, which promise to bring further clarity and direction in the detection and management of this often-misunderstood condition.
Roe v Wade
The Victorian Women's Health Services issues a collective response condemning the overturning of Roe v Wade, expressing solidarity with women and people with a uterus in the United States and calling upon the state and federal governments throughout Australia to expand the provision of affordable abortion through adequate funding and prioritisation of women's sexual and reproductive health.
The overturning of Roe v Wade through the Supreme Court not only resulted in an effective ban on abortion in multiple states across the United States of America but highlighted several key gaps in current service provision and access for women and people with a uterus in Victoria. WHISE issued an additional press release and was invited by community radio station 3CR to go on air and chat about these developments.
Early Medical Abortion Capacity-Building
WHISE, in partnership with Women's Health East and Gippsland Women's Health and supported by EACH, Sexual Health Victoria, the Royal Women's Hospital, Peninsula Health, 1800 My Options, the Gippsland Primary Health Network and the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health, delivered two webinars for doctors, nurse practitioners and pharmacists on early medical abortion in June and July 2023.
The first webinar focused on the processes for prescribing, dispensing, and supporting patients through medical abortion, and attracted 161 registrations and 80 attendees. The second webinar, focused on establishing provision in community settings, responding to reproductive coercion and post-procedure presentations, received 109 registrations and 42 attendees.
Development of Consent Matters pilot program with Sexual Health Victoria in 2023
Our organisations have partnered with Youth Affairs Council (YAC) Vic, Women's Health Loddon Mallee, Zoe Belle Gender Collective, the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, municipal youth services and other organisations
WHISE and Sexual Health Victoria were among the recipients of funding from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, to deliver a project aligned with the new affirmative consent legislation in Victoria.
Together we designed and delivered capacity-building for youth and community services professionals in relation to affirmative consent, including the implications of the recent legislative changes.
Professional Capacity & Competency Building
Sexual and reproductive health capacity-building for bicultural workers
In March 2023, WHISE delivered a capacity-building workshop on sexual and reproductive health for bicultural workers, to build the knowledge, skills, and confidence of the existing bicultural workforce to disseminate evidence-based information about medical abortion, contraception, and sexually transmissible infections to culturally and linguistically diverse communities in the Southern Metropolitan Region. This event was delivered in partnership with the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health, Hepatitis Victoria/LiverWELL, Peninsula Health and Monash Health Community, supported by the City of Greater Dandenong, with 44 registered.
Cultural competency training for allied health and health promotion practitioners
WHISE partnered with the Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health to deliver cultural competency training to health practitioners, health promotion professionals and policymakers in November 2022. The session, supported by the City of Casey, sought to build the capacity of practitioners to provide culturally appropriate, safe, and inclusive services and messaging for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.
The training included information about the social determinants and lived experiences that may impact the health of migrants, refugees and CALD people in Australia, the cultural beliefs and values that may impact on health behaviours, the sexual and reproductive health issues affecting CALD communities in Australia, and the teach-back technique which is useful for working with people from CALD backgrounds. The training was attended by 39 people.
SOCIAL VALUE IMPACT:
Program Name: Cultural Competency training for Allied Health and Health Promotion
Net Benefit to Community : $106,508.
The net benefit per participant is $5,606
Benefit Cost Ratio : 11.23
Social Impact as calculated through the Australia Social Value Bank for the delivery of the Critical Friends Network.
The values used in this cost benefit analysis have been derived using the wellbeing valuation method from data gathered through the HILDA (Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia) and Journeys Home Survey.
Health Planners Forums
To build the capacity of health planners working in local government settings across the Southern Metropolitan Region, WHISE delivered two forums in partnership with the Department of Health in June and July 2023.
The purpose of these forums was to increase knowledge and understanding of the role of councils in implementing health promotion activities, policies, and campaigns to improve sexual and reproductive health.
Following the delivery of these forums, WHISE has designed and disseminated tailored resources to each of the councils in our region, to support the integration and alignment of sexual and reproductive health within municipal planning.