The Victorian Women's Health Services Network (WHSN) is pleased to share its combined submission to the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Women's Pain. This submission highlights critical issues and provides a comprehensive set of recommendations aimed at improving the health outcomes and care experiences of women and gender-diverse people across Victoria.

The Victorian Women's Health Services Network (WHSN) and Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) have collaborated to produce a comprehensive gender analysis of the Victorian State Budget for 2024-25. As leading organisations dedicated to advancing the health, wellbeing, and equality of all Victorian women, this report examines the budget through an intersectional gender lens, assessing its potential impact on creating a safer, healthier, and more equitable future for all Victorians.

The Victorian Women’s Health Services Network (WHSN) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee Inquiry into the issues related to menopause and perimenopause.

As feminist organisations, the members of the Victorian WHSN bring an evidence-based reproductive justice framework to our health policy advocacy, and are dedicated to centring the experiences of women and gender diverse people.

Victoria, like the rest of Australia, has highly gender-segregated workforces. Women are overrepresented in low-paid and insecure jobs in sectors including health care and social assistance and teaching, while remaining underrepresented in other industries like energy and manufacturing. This is in part due to entrenched stereotypes about the type of careers that men and women can have. These stereotypes can influence young people’s decisions and perceptions about study and work from a young age.

In November 2023 the Victorian Government asked for submissions that might support change in this sector and the WSHN responded.

The National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy sets a road map of actions to a sustainable and productive care and support economy that delivers quality care with decent jobs.

The care and support economy—the provision of paid care and support—is one of the fastest-growing parts of the Australian economy. There is enormous projected demand for care and support services across aged care, disability support, veterans’ care and early childhood education and care (ECEC) sectors. 

In June 2023, the Federal Government asked for submissions on the Draft Strategy and the Women’s Health Services responded.

In Victoria, a not-for-profit organisation can incorporate as an incorporated association, enabling the organisation to become a legal entity distinct from any individual member of the organisation.

The Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 (Vic) (the Act) provides the legal basis for this business structure. The Associations Incorporation Reform Regulations 2012 (the current Regulations) set out a range of requirements for the establishment, operation, and cancellation of an incorporated association.

In September 2023, the WHSN responded to the call for submissions to the Federal Department of Government Services Stakeholder request.