Who is WHISE

Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) is a not-for-profit organisation founded in 1992.

WHISE provides promotion, advocacy, support and education services for women’s health in the Southern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. We work with governments, organisations, education providers, health practitioners and community groups.

WHISE is part of a network of women’s health services across Victoria. The Women’s Health Services Network (WHSN) focuses on empowering women, working to improve health and wellbeing of women within our community.

Vision, Mission & Values

Our Staff and Board

Annual Reports

Employment

IHP

Our Region

In 2022, WHISE celebrated our 30 Year Anniversary!

Showcasing our work over the past 30 years, this short video gives insight into the passion and energy of our founders, and why developing a women’s health service was so important.

We catch a glimpse of the work done over the years since, and chat to team members about the focus of our work today and where we are heading. Join us for a walk through the ‘herstory’ of WHISE.

Primary Prevention

Primary prevention is at the very core of what we do. It is a deliberate way of changing the underlying causes of poor health and increases community well-being. Most importantly for us it also empowers women. Rather than treating disease, our work seeks to prevent disease. WHISE work aims to reduce incidence of poor health of women in our community.

To achieve this, we train and raise understanding about gender equality because we know that this is the root cause of violence against women. We work in partnership with communities on sexual and reproductive health to support women to take control over their own health and well-being.

Where We Work

Our area of work is called the South Metropolitan Region and consists of approximately 1.3 million people, representing about one-quarter of the state’s total population.

Our work can cover the 10 local government areas of Kingston City Council, Frankston City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, Greater Dandenong City Council, Cardinia Shire Council and Casey City Council.

The Bunurong and Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation are the Traditional Owners of the lands that now make up the Southern Metro Region of Melbourne.

Our Work and Services

Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) provides health information, health promotion and education to the female community and health professionals. We assist women, particularly those who are significantly disadvantaged, to access services that they need. This can include our own services, or those of our service partners. We advocate for improved health services, and we encourage women to take more effective control of their health and well-being.

The service is accessible to all women in the region in a safe and friendly environment.

Our Service:

Addresses the health needs of women and assists them to access services that they need
Liaises with and complements other health services
Provides information and referral to other providers
Encourages women to take responsibility for their own health
Works within the UN conventions on the elimination of discrimination, violence and disadvantage towards women.

The Women's Health Movement in Victoria

Watch a timeline of key events and moments from 1970 that have been a part of the Women's Health Services and their story. Created by the Women's Health Services, this video was first presented at the "Women's Health in the House" event on 13 September 2022.

Women's Health in the South East

About Us