Shellharbour Club funding helps upgrade Women’s Health Centre bathroom
More women will be able to access Illawarra Women’s Health Centre safely and with dignity, thanks to more than $50,000 in funding to improve accessibility at its Warilla site. Funding through the Shellharbour ClubGRANTS Scheme will support a major upgrade of the Centre’s bathroom facilities, creating a safer and more accessible space for women of […]
‘There is no safe way’: Centre calls for action on sexual strangulation
Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is calling for stronger education about the risks of sexual strangulation as Australian research reveals how common the practice has become among young people. A national study of 4,702 Australians aged 18 to 35 found 57 per cent had been strangled during sex, while 51 per cent had strangled a partner. […]
Ending violence against women is everyone’s responsibility
As violence against women once again dominates the national conversation, it can be easy to feel like the solutions sit somewhere else, with government, police, courts or specialist services. But Illawarra Women’s Health Centre Acting General Manager Tonina Harvey says some of the most important work happens much closer to home. “Government has an absolutely […]
Many women wait years for help with incontinence. They don’t have to.
Bladder or bowel leakage affects millions of Australians, yet many women put off seeking help because they assume it’s a normal part of ageing or having children. But health professionals say support is available and early treatment can make a significant difference. More than 7.2 million Australians were living with incontinence in 2023, with that […]
Young Women’s Program returns to Illawarra schools with Zonta Club support
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre will return its Young Women’s Program to local schools after a $5,000 donation from Zonta Club of Shellharbour and Kiama helped revive the initiative following the loss of funding last year. The funding will allow the Centre to deliver workshops on healthy relationships, sexual health and contraception to Year 9 […]
What the PCOS name change means for women in the Illawarra
For decades, many women with PCOS have been treated as though they have a fertility condition. Researchers now say that narrow understanding is one of the reasons women have missed out on earlier diagnosis and support for the condition’s wider impacts, including diabetes, heart disease and mental health. Now, one of the world’s most common […]
New initiative connects women to housing and hope
For the first time, women supported by the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre are gaining direct access to transitional housing through a partnership with the Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services (WHHHS). Funded through Bendigo Bank Community Bank Oak Flats, the initiative combines the housing expertise of the WHHHS with the Centre’s specialist casework and support […]
Brokerage program delivers practical support for Illawarra women in crisis
Women at risk of homelessness across the Illawarra are receiving practical, life-changing support thanks to a $200,000 grant from Bendigo Bank’s Community Bank Oak Flats and Gerringong, enabling the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre to deliver a targeted homelessness prevention program. The funding has allowed the Centre to employ a dedicated case worker and provide brokerage […]
Victoria and South Australia are acting on women’s pain. What’s holding NSW back?
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is calling on NSW to improve access to pain relief for women undergoing IUD procedures, following Victoria’s statewide rollout of the green whistle and South Australia’s commitment to introduce the option through public health services. The fast-acting pain relief option, known clinically as Penthrox, is now available free of charge […]
New community space supports growing demand for women’s services in Northern Illawarra
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre has officially launched its new training and activity room as part of its expansion to provide more services to the Northern Illawarra. The room at the Centre’s Northern site at the University of Wollongong’s Innovation Campus is a dedicated space to support education, well-being programs and community connection for women […]