The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is warning that gaps in access to women’s services are leaving women in the Illawarra without the support they need.
The Centre is urging the NSW Government to use the upcoming budget to fund a permanent Northern Illawarra women’s health service to ensure women can access specialist and holistic support close to home.
The renewed call comes after the Public Services Association of NSW called for a state government-run domestic violence body to solely provide services.
General Manager Jess Davidson said the current public debate must be used to drive investment into community-based services that are already supporting women across the Illawarra.
“We know that local services work, that women have better health outcomes when they can access community-led services that have the expertise, trust and local knowledge that specialist services have developed over decades.”
“For 40 years, we’ve been able to respond to local needs and also raise awareness of issues impacting women in the Illawarra, including access to sexual and reproductive health, domestic and family violence, and gender inequality.”
“Domestic, family and sexual violence impacts every part of our community, which means it will take government, specialist services and communities working together as part of a whole of community response”.
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre provides integrated health, counselling and support services to women, including those experiencing domestic and family violence.
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.
As demand continues to grow, access to these services is becoming increasingly stretched, particularly in the northern Illawarra, where there is currently no permanent women’s health service.
Jess Davidson said addressing these gaps must be part of any serious response to the DFV crisis.
“Women in the northern Illawarra are missing out on accessible, local support. For many, distance, cost and availability are real barriers to getting help. That’s why we’re calling for urgent funding to establish a permanent women’s health service in the north.”
The Centre is seeking investment to secure a dedicated Northern Illawarra site, to expand access to medical care, counselling and support services, and improve early intervention for women at risk.
A Northern Illawarra site will also alleviate pressures on the Centre’s Warilla site where women face long waiting lists.
“This is about making sure women can get support early, before situations escalate. And having funding to provide immediate support when women need it most. We already have the model and the expertise. What’s needed now is the funding to deliver it where it’s most needed.”
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre said: “Strengthening existing, community-based services, including addressing regional gaps in access, is critical to improving outcomes for women and responding to increasing demand”.
“To solve this crisis requires properly funded specialist services, access to safe housing, women’s health care, prevention and early intervention programs. The solution is not less community sector involvement. It’s about ensuring local and trusted services have the investment needed to meet the scale of the crisis we are seeing.”
“The priority now must be clear: invest in local services and ensure women in every part of the Illawarra can access support when they need it.”