Women's Health Policy

This section of the web site is devoted to links to policy that has an impact on women’s health.

	International agreements
	State Growing Victoria Together A Fairer Victoria Integrated Health Promotion Framework Leading with Victoria's Women Women's Health and Wellbeing Strategy Women's Safety Strategy Other
	Victorian Government Information

International

Australia is a signatory to a number of international agreements relating to equality for women. In particular,

• United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
• 1995 Beijing Platform for Action

State

Growing Victoria Together

Growing Victoria Together is a ten-year vision that articulates what is important to Victorians and the priorities that the Bracks Government has set to build a better society. It is based on careful discussion and consultation with many groups in the community. Originally published in 2001, it was updated in 2205

The Victorian Government's vision is that by 2010 Victoria will be a state with:

• A thriving economy
• Quality health and education
• A healthy environment
• Caring communities
• A vibrant democracy

A Fairer Victoria

In April 2005 A Fairer Victoria - the Victorian Government Social Policy Action Plan was released with a number of strategy areas aimed at reducing disadvantage and creating opportunities

A Fairer Victoria 2007 continues to invest areas that have a direct impact on disadvantage. These include reforms to children’s services, investment in social housing, mental health and disability services.

Victoria's Integrated Health Promotion Framework

The Integrated Health Promotion Framework includes three key features:

• Effective partnerships
• A mix of interventions and common planning framework
• A broad range of sectors

It applies to agencies and organisations from a wide range of sectors and communities in a catchment working in a collaborative manner using a mix of health promotion interventions and capacity building strategies to address priority health and wellbeing issues. It has a guiding principle of considering gender and culture in development and application of policy, programs and services.

Leading with Victoria's Women 2004-2007

A whole of government publication, Leading with Victoria's Women focuses on women, to working for a better quality of life for all Victorian Women and their families, recognising the diversity of Victorian women, their varied lives and experiences. One of the key action areas is health, wellbeing and community strengthening.

Victorian Women's Health and Wellbeing Strategy Stage 2: 2006-2010 (VWHWS)

In September 2006, the Minister for Health launched the Victorian Women's Health and Wellbeing Strategy Stage Two 2006-2010. This continues the Government's commitment to improving women's health and wellbeing, with particular attention to the links between gender, diversity and disadvantage. Stage 1 of the Strategy ran for four years from 2002 and celebrated 160 women’s health and wellbeing initiatives across the range of Department of Human Services (DHS) programs.

The strategy is based on:

• contemporary research findings
• key stakeholder consultations
• learning from Stage One
• Government policy directions

Three priority action areas were developed. These are:

• mental health
• sexual and reproductive health
• social connectedness

The importance of developing and implementing a multi level, 'gender based analysis framework' for use across the Department of Human Services (DHS) divisions, programs and funded agencies has also been identified.

Women's Safety Strategy

The Women's Safety Strategy is a blue print for addressing violence against women and the Progress Report details the progress that Victoria has made on the Safety Strategy in its first three years. This is part of the Victorian Govenmen't priority of building safe and resilient communities for all Victorians is a priority for the Victorian Government.

Other

• The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006) Vic
• Disabilities Legislation in Victoria
• Victorian State Disability Action Plan 2002-2012
• Valuing Cultural Diversity Policy Statement (2002)
• Cultural Diversity Guide (2004)
• Improving the lives of Indigenous Victorians (2006)
• Aboriginal Services Plans (2007)
• Building better partnerships: Working with Aboriginal Communities and organisations (2006)
• Health & Sexual Diversity: A Health & Wellbeing Action Plan for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Victorians (2003)
• Refugee Health & Wellbeing Action Plan 2005-2008
• Better Pathways - An integrated response to women's offending and re-offending

Victorian Government Information

• Department of Human Services (DHS)
• Victorian Government Health Information
• Department of Victorian Communities (DVC)

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