The Illawarra Women’s Health Centre has celebrated four decades of supporting women across the region, with more than 200 supporters, staff, volunteers, past leaders and community partners gathering at Novotel Wollongong North Beach on Friday, July 17 to mark the milestone.
The gala dinner celebrated the organisation’s achievements over the past 40 years while looking ahead to the work still to be done to improve women’s health, safety and equality.
Opening the evening, General Manager Jess Davidson reflected on the vision of the women who established the centre in 1986.
“They had a deep belief that women’s health is shaped by more than appointments and prescriptions,” she said.
“Health is shaped by things like safety, housing, financial security, connection and culture.”
She said that belief continues to guide the organisation’s work today, from sexual and reproductive healthcare and counselling to domestic and family violence support, advocacy and community programs.
“While we celebrate 40 years of impact, we know the work is far from done. Women across our region continue to face violence, housing insecurity and barriers to accessing timely healthcare and support. The need for specialist women’s services has never been clearer.”
Former Executive Director Sally Stevenson used her address to reflect on the people who have shaped the organisation, beginning with the collective of women who founded the centre and established a culture she described as collaborative, generous and fearless.
Rather than focusing on milestones, she spoke about the women who had trusted the service with their stories over four decades.
“That’s trust that is not something we are owed,” she said. “It is something we have to earn every single time.”
Ms Stevenson also reflected on the centre’s long history of advocacy, highlighting campaigns for abortion law reform, recognition of coercive control, increased funding for women’s health services and the establishment of the Illawarra Women’s Trauma Recovery Centre.
She said the organisation had never been afraid to take principled positions on issues affecting women and social justice, arguing that progress had always depended on persistence.
“I was told once that if you’re a true feminist, you don’t stop fighting until you die,” she said. “But here’s the other truth. When you fight alongside good women, it can be exhilarating.”
Federal Member for Whitlam Carol Berry, herself a former general manager of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre, said the anniversary represented far more than a birthday celebration.
“It tells the story of a vision that became a reality,” she said.
Ms Berry said the organisation had supported more than 120,000 women and their families over four decades by providing education, counselling, social support and specialist programs.
She also reflected on one of the highlights of her own time leading the organisation – the Fighting Our Way gathering in 2012, which brought together more than 130 Aboriginal women and supporters and demonstrated the power of women supporting one another.
To mark the occasion, Ms Berry presented the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre with commemorative certificates, signed by the Prime Minister, recognising the organisation’s 40 years of service.
Chair of the Centre’s Council of Women, Jess Koot, thanked the women who continue to place their trust in the organisation.
“To our clients, you’re the ones that keep our centre in operation,” she said.
“Every day you teach us resilience, strength and kindness.
“Our work’s not done. Forty years is just the beginning.”