The Victorian Women’s Health Services Network (WHSN) Conference at Melbourne Town Hall on 13 February marked a significant moment for our sector. WHISE joined women’s health leaders from across Victoria to deepen collaboration and strengthen our approach to gender equality.

Key themes emerging from the day included:

The power of lived experience in shaping services, with a strong focus on ethical engagement and avoiding extractive storytelling. Conference discussions emphasised the need to ensure that people’s contributions drive real systemic change.

Intersectionality took centre stage, with calls to permanently fund bicultural worker positions and embed disability inclusion across all services. The conference highlighted the importance of moving beyond broad categories to develop tailored approaches for different communities.

Prevention of violence against women remains a priority, with particular focus on effective men’s engagement strategies. While positive results are emerging, the sector acknowledged the need to support prevention workers in navigating backlash and resistance.

The conference also sparked important discussions about evaluation reform, with WHISE and our partners advocating for funding and reporting structures that better align with feminist and intersectional values.

Looking ahead, WHISE is committed to turning these insights into action through:

• Establishing an ongoing Community of Practice
• Advocating for sustainable funding models
• Enhancing accessibility and inclusion in all initiatives
• Supporting reform in evaluation and reporting frameworks

The energy and commitment displayed at WHSN 2024 reinforced the strength of the sector’s collective work toward gender equality in Victoria.