Submissions

The Australian Women’s Health Network is best placed to provide an informed, national voice on women’s health and well-being.

AWHN has provided a national voice on women’s health issues, based on informed consultation with its members, for nearly 30 years. During this time it has influenced health policy, research and practice reform in a variety of key women’s health areas.

AWHN is a highly respected women’s health promotion advocacy organisation with organisational members drawn from across the community, public and private health sectors and every state and territory in Australia.

In 2012, the importance of AWHN’s work was recognised by the Australian Government with a grant from the Health Systems Capacity Development Fund through the Department of Health. This funding supported a significant expansion of the organisation’s capacity with the employment of a full-time Chief Executive Officer.

As a result of this increased capacity, AWHN researched and published various resources providing evidence informed advice on diverse women’s health issues, ranging from: the diagnosis, treatment and research of non-communicable diseases, such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease; through the impact of economic and climatic disaster; to the harm caused by the use of gendered stereotypes to sell public health messages.

Examples of other activity undertaken by AWHN include the provision of important professional development opportunities, such as the well regarded National Women’s Health Conferences, and development of the Women’s Health Hub: The Australian Women’s Health Network Clearinghouse, the only national, central entry point to access and share information on women’s health.

This work has supported the creation of better policy and provide greater access to health information, thereby enhancing delivery of women’s health services and improve the health and wellbeing of all women.