Women face year-long waits for vital health support as demand overwhelms Illawarra services, prompting urgent funding calls for a women’s health service in Northern Illawarra.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is calling for NSW Government investment to establish a permanent women’s health service in Northern Illawarra, warning that rapidly increasing demand is pushing existing services beyond capacity and leaving many women without timely care.
In its 2026–2027 pre-budget submission, the Centre outlines how its current Warilla facility is struggling to meet the needs of women across the region.
Demand for counselling, domestic and family violence support, and sexual and reproductive health services has more than doubled in the past three years, with waitlists stretching up to 12 months and referrals periodically closed due to overwhelming demand.
To address the urgent need, the Centre self-funded a temporary outreach service in North Wollongong in 2024. The service, based at the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus, has been popular with the community, but without government funding, the service cannot continue long-term.
General Manager Jess Davidson said the growing gap in access to care is placing vulnerable women at risk and adding pressure to hospitals and emergency departments.
“Women are being forced to wait far too long for essential support, or travel significant distances to access services. Many delay seeking help until they reach a crisis point, which is devastating for individuals and families and places avoidable pressure on our health system,” Ms Davidson said.
Northern Illawarra is home to more than 113,000 women, with population growth projected to increase by 35 per cent in the coming years. At the same time, domestic and family violence rates in parts of the region remain 50 per cent higher than the NSW average.
Access to affordable healthcare in the Illawarra is a significant issue. The report Access Denied: Australians Locked Out of Quality Healthcare found that the percentage of Illawarra residents unable to afford GP visits increased by over 600% in four years, the largest increase in NSW.
The Centre’s proposal seeks funding to establish a permanent Northern Illawarra site offering bulk-billed women’s health services, expanded counselling and casework support, and dedicated bilingual staff to improve access for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. The service would also strengthen referral pathways for university students and other priority populations.
Ms Davidson said the Centre already has the workforce expertise, governance structures and partnerships in place to deliver expanded services quickly and effectively.
“This is not a pilot or an untested idea,” she said.
“Community-based women’s health services have proven they deliver better outcomes while reducing long-term costs for the health system. Investing now means fewer women reaching crisis point and healthier communities across the Illawarra.”
The Centre argues that establishing a permanent Northern Illawarra service would reduce hospital demand, improve mental health and safety outcomes, and ensure women across the region can access culturally safe, trauma-informed care when they need it most.
The submission urges the NSW Government to act in the upcoming budget to secure sustainable access to specialist women’s health services for the region’s future.