Introduction

Women’s Health in the South East (WHISE) is proud to lead the regional strategy, Good Health Down South, to improve sexual and reproductive health (SRH).

The strategy identifies the key SRH issues facing women and people across the region. It also identifies evidence-based mechanisms for reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes. Good Health Down South 2021 – 2025 provides an evaluation framework for measuring short- and medium-term outcomes of our health promotion.

The strategy reflects extensive consultation with local government, community health organisations and other health promotion agencies. It builds upon the achievements of the first regional strategy for SRH.

The Year One and Two Action Plan is the operational component of the strategy, articulating the key actions delivered by the Good Health Down South Network from January 2022 until June 2023. WHISE coordinates a regional multi-sector partnership to deliver the actions described in the action plan. We aim to grow and strengthen this in our Year Three and Four Action Plan, operational as of July 2023. Good Health Down South 2021-2025 is supported by the Victorian Department of Health.

Overview of Outcomes

Objective 1: Increase the range of sectors, settings and organisations in the region that are involved in the Good Health Down South 2021-2025 strategy.

Objective 2: Build the capacity and capability of the regional workforce to integrate and prioritise sexual and reproductive health into other health priority areas, in particular the primary prevention of violence against women and the promotion of gender equity.

Objective 3: Increase the capability and capacity of organisations and practitioners to provide equitable sexual and reproductive health services.

Objective 4: Increase capability and capacity of organisations and practitioners to provide culturally appropriate and inclusive sexual and reproductive health services for priority populations.

Objective 5: Increase the dissemination and promotion of evidence-based sexual and reproductive health information across diverse community settings in the region.

Objective 6: Increase capability and capacity of primary prevention and clinical practitioners to provide gender-sensitive respectful relationships and sexuality education.

Read the full evaluation below.