Spotlight on Gippsland Women’s Health
About Gippsland Women’s Health
Gippsland Women’s Health (GWH) are the lead organisation for gender equality, women's sexual and reproductive health promotion, prevention of violence against women, and family violence system leadership in Gippsland.
GWH achieve their core work through community education and training (capacity building), strategic partnerships, advocacy, and awareness-raising campaigns and initiatives. The GWH team is based throughout Gippsland, and they work to promote the services of local health organisations to ensure equal access for all women.
Featured work: ‘Are You Covered’ Magazine
The ‘Are You Covered’ magazine is Gippsland Women’s Health’s very first sexual and reproductive health (SRH) resource - developed as a response to the ongoing demand for relevant, localised and accessible SRH information in Gippsland.
Launched to coincide with Jean Hailes’ Women’s Health Week 2022, the aim of this magazine is to provide local people in Gippsland with an accessible, easy to understand SRH resource containing articles, local stories and support services. The magazine was developed on the notion that ‘knowledge is power’, and with that knowledge, comes the confidence and ability of a person to advocate for their own health in a variety of settings.
Issue one
In the first issue, articles and stories of local Gippsland women were featured covering key women’s sexual and reproductive health topics:
· STI checks and screening
· Breast screening
· Cervical cancer
· Menopause and peri-menopause
· Endometriosis
· Masturbation
· Labia Library
· Abortion
· Contraception
A key feature of the first magazine was a useful glossary filled with sexual and reproductive health terms and definitions. This was an essential part of the first edition and was included as a means for helping to build the health literacy of readers.
Take a look at AYC magazine: Issue 1
Issue two
After popular demand following the launch of issue one – and in addition to ongoing feedback from the wider community stating the need for more SRH resources – the GWH team set about creating the 2nd edition. The team gathered more local stories, covering the often unspoken about SRH topics, and highlighting recent advancements in women’s preventative healthcare.
Released in September 2023 to align with Jean Hailes’ Women’s Health Week, the second iteration covers:
· Women’s health checks
o Breast self-checks
o Breast screening
o Cervical screening
o Ovarian cancer
o Pregnancy
o STI screening
· National Cervical Screening Program
· Coping with pelvic pain in the workplace
· Hormones, periods, peri-menopause and menopause
· Pregnancy, miscarriage and abortion
· Affirmative consent
· Sexual Reproductive Health Hubs
· Pride
o Asexuality
o Gippsland Pride Initiative
Take a look at AYC Magazine: Issue 2
What’s next for this work?
More than one month after launch, the success and demand of this resource continues to grow. The GWH team are pleased to acknowledge that a 3rd edition is already underway, with release set for May 2024.
To be the first to know about the release of AYC Magazine: Issue 3, sign up to become a GWH member or follow @GippslandWomensHealth on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or X (formerly Twitter).
To contribute or get involved in getting involved Are You Covered magazine, contact comms@gwhealth.asn.au.
If you have read the magazines and wish to provide feedback, the GWH team would love to hear your thoughts via this short survey.
