Illawarra women urged to book free Heart Health Check as new study exposes gender gap in cardiac care
Women across the Illawarra are being urged to take up a free Heart Health Check after new Australian research revealed women are dying at higher rates than men following heart attacks. The landmark Medical Journal of Australia study analysed almost a decade of hospital data from New South Wales and found that, compared with men, […]
Five things you might not know about dementia and exercise
Five things you might not know about dementia and exercise Most people know exercise is good for your body, but fewer realise how powerful it can be for your brain. Here are five things you might not have known about the link between dementia and staying active – and how our programs at the Illawarra […]
How you can access free period products at the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre
The rising cost of living is pushing more women into period poverty, with many struggling to afford basic menstrual products, according to Share the Dignity. In response, the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre in Warilla offers free period products to any woman who needs them, with no questions asked. “At the Centre, women can access free […]
Illawarra Women’s Health Centre backs fight to protect UOW’s sexual assault service
Students and community groups are organising a rally to campaign against plans proposed by the University of Wollongong (UOW) to redesign the only on-campus support for survivors of sexual assault, harassment, bullying and violence. The Safe and Respectful Communities (SARC) service is currently under review, with students warning that its closure would silence survivors, leave […]
Report reveals how women’s health challenges shift across a lifetime
Australian women are living longer than ever, with life expectancy reaching 85.5 years. Yet a new national report shows that each stage of life brings its own health challenges – from anxiety and eating disorders in youth, to back pain and menopause in midlife, and finally dementia in older age. The comprehensive Health of Women […]
Weaver’s Program brings joy and awareness during Dementia Action Week
The smiles lit up the room as children from Warilla Education and Care Service and people living with dementia from the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre’s Weaver’s Program met on Tuesday, September 16. Simple moments like icing a biscuit or listening intently to a story can be taken for granted, but for those living with dementia […]
Why the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre is seeing a dramatic surge in demand for long-acting reversible contraceptives
The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre has reported a 240 per cent increase in women accessing long-acting reversible contraception (LARC) in the past six months, highlighting the growing demand for affordable reproductive healthcare. The Centre’s Executive Director, Sally Stevenson, said the surge reflects a critical unmet need. “We’ve seen a dramatic increase in women accessing our […]
Women’s health research receives $39m boost, but ‘still a drop in the ocean’
A wave of women’s health research projects has been funded in the 2025 round of the National Health and Medical Research Council’s grant schemes. Among the 338 projects supported so far in 2025, 18 specifically focus on women’s health issues, receiving a combined $39 million. These initiatives address critical gaps spanning pregnancy, chronic disease, cancer, […]
Birthing suites still off the cards at $780m Shellharbour Hospital, as helipad confirmed
A rooftop helipad will be built at the new $780 million Shellharbour Hospital, after both major parties pledged to fund it, but birthing suites remain off the cards. NSW Health Minister Ryan Park confirmed the government’s $10 million commitment just hours after NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman made the same promise, ensuring the lifesaving addition […]
Contraception improves women’s health and opportunities, WHO report finds
A new report from the World Health Organisation has highlighted how access to contraception is reshaping women’s lives globally, extending far beyond its role in preventing unintended pregnancies. The evidence brief called, Impact of contraceptive use on women’s health and socioeconomic status, was released earlier this year and pulls together six systematic reviews on the […]