The Victorian Women’s Health Services Network have launched a landmark report.

Development

Return on Equity: Health and economic dividends from investing in Women’s Health describes the economic return that investment in the Women’s Health Services sector has to Victoria. 

The report was commissioned by the sector and authored by Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist of Impact Economics and Policy. It reveals the invaluable contributions of Women’s Health Services to Victoria.  

The report is now available on the Women’s Health Services website.

Our priorities — Women’s Health Services Network

Launch & Impact

At the launch event, Dr Jackson stated that ‘the important thing to start with is that gender inequity is costly’, that ‘it is an important social determinant of health… it’s incredibly costly to all of us, not just women’. 

For over three decades, the twelve Women’s Health Services have been championing:

• best-practice models
• addressing gender inequality
• enhancing the health and wellbeing of women and girls across Victoria.  

It’s crucial to secure funding in the 2024-25 Victorian Budget to preserve the progress and benefits achieved. Our work ensures support for inclusive communities, reduced healthcare costs, and improved workforce participation and reduction in violence against women and girls. 

The launch showcased the lived experience of the workers in the sector, and over 100 delegates were able to hear about: 

• The work through Women’s Health Grampians supporting First Nations women in the region.
• The state wide service 1800 My Options run by Women’s Health Victoria to provide information about contraception, pregnancy options and sexual health in Victoria.
• The health promotion and primary prevention work of the team at GenWest who provide support to migrant and refugee women in the region. These women gain confidence in addressing their own health and wellbeing and navigating the health system.

The stories shared demonstrate the true value that the Women’s Health Services bring to Victoria and our economy. Sharing stories of our work shows it is not just about the data, but also about people. 

Further information

A video of the launch can be found on the WHSN website here as well as a transcript of the event. 

The report calls for and provides clear evidence to maintain funding at current levels. For further information on the report please contact us.  

We look forward to speaking with you in the very near future about our work and its value to the community.