The rise of women's health centres in Australia
On what is generally called the “second wave of feminism” – the peak of which was in the 1970s, women’s health centres began to emerge -fuelled by a widening recognition that women’s health needs were not being adequately met by mainstream health services.
One of the initial goals of women’s health activists at this time was to ensure women were offered access to safe abortions – a goal that was broadened as women identified that the current health system failed to address their needs.
Women’s Health Centres have been at the forefront of women’s health care. They complement rather than duplicate existing services. The actual work of a women’s health centre varies from centre to centre, although their approach to work comes from a shared philosophical base.
Women’s health services encompass a diverse and broad range of services, aimed at encouraging informed choice – and reflecting both the diversity of women and the wide range of issues that affect their health.
These services are provided within a feminist context which:
- Recognises the social, environmental, economic, physical, emotional and cultural factors which influence women’s health
- Recognises and challenges the effects of sex-role stereotyping and gender discrimination on women’s health and well-being
- Reflects the whole of a woman’s lifespan, their various and changing roles and responsibilities, not just their reproductive life
- Recognises the importance of maintaining health and well-being by focusing on preventative practices
- Actively encourages the empowerment of women in both the personal and social aspects of their lives
- Values women’s own knowledge and skills and their right to make informed decisions about their health