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Misogyny is not a mystery. It is a mechanism, and a mechanism can be redesigned.
It is unfortunate that, with the evidence available and the expertise available, myths and misinformation about what prevents violence against women are still being distributed. Two Australian studies close the question. Women’s Health in the South East is asking that algorithmic recommendation be something a young person opts into rather than the setting they are…
Senate inquiry into women’s health must reach the women the system usually misses
Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) warmly welcomes the Senate’s decision to establish a Select Committee on Women’s Health, and thanks Senator Marielle Smith for the advocacy and leadership that brought it about. The Committee, which Senator Smith will chair, was established on 19 August. Its terms of reference cover postpartum healthcare, women’s pain…
The Senate is asking women about their health. Here’s what WHISE is keen to share.
Some good news. On 19 August the Senate agreed to establish a Select Committee on Women’s Health, on a motion moved by Senator Marielle Smith, who will chair it. We want to start by thanking her. Committees like this do not appear by themselves. This one exists because a senator kept raising women’s health, year…
Women’s mental health cannot be separated from women’s physical health
One in two Australian women is experiencing a mental health issue and almost one in four is experiencing severe psychological distress, according to Beyond the Surface 2026, released by Women’s Mental Health Australia. The report draws on a nationally representative survey of 9,000 women. The report finds women’s mental health is shaped by the pressures…
Australia has never known more about the gender pay gap. WHISE says that’s the opportunity.
Women’s Health in the South East marks Equal Pay Day 2026 by welcoming three major data releases — and pointing to the growing evidence that targeted action closes pay gaps. “Ten years ago we argued about whether the gap was real,” said WHISE Chief Executive Officer Kit McMahon. “Now we can see where it sits, who it falls hardest on,…
WHISE welcomes new Victorian ministry and the place of gender equality at the Cabinet table
Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) congratulates Premier Ben Carroll and the newly announced Victorian ministry, and welcomes the continued commitment to gender equality, women’s health and the prevention of family violence. WHISE warmly welcomes the appointment of Deputy Premier Gabrielle Williams as Minister for Women and Gender Equality. “A ministry list tells you…
National Action Plan Must Fund What Makes Prevention Work
A partnership of nearly 40 organisations across Melbourne’s south and south-east is calling on the Australian Government to make sustained, place-based primary prevention a central pillar of the Second Action Plan under the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children 2022–2032. The Promoting Respect and Equity Together (PRET) Partnership has contributed a detailed…
WHISE thanks Premier Jacinta Allan for her leadership on women’s health
Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) today thanks Premier Jacinta Allan for her tireless work, her leadership, and her steadfast commitment to the health, dignity and equality of women across Victoria. Announcing her resignation this morning, the Premier spoke of the things that have mattered most across her leadership, and she finished with women’s…
Abortion is healthcare: WHISE reaffirms support for reproductive autonomy and opposes the criminalisation of abortion seekers
Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) welcomes the South Australian Parliament’s decision to reject proposed restrictions on abortion after 25 weeks, describing the outcome as an important affirmation that reproductive healthcare should remain grounded in evidence, gender equality and human rights. While the Bill was ultimately voted down in the Lower House, the debate…