ABOUT US

Our Story

In 1973-74 Commonwealth grants were made to women's health centres in Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. Women's shelters were also being established under this program. It was in this climate that Women's Liberation House organised a meeting in 1974 to consider the question of a women's health centre for Adelaide. There was considerable support for the idea and a decision was made to apply to the Commonwealth for funding.

These women saw the health centre as being for women who were tired of having to go to unsympathetic, or hostile male doctors, and who wanted a different sort of medical and health service. They believed they had a right to such a service and that there were many other women who felt the same way but hadn't yet recognised the possibility of a better service.

The Hindmarsh Centre was opened officially in February, 1976.

The feminist principles of the founding members informed the style and range of services and activities undertaken. It led to an emphasis on providing a service for individual women which incorporated treatment with education and information about how our bodies work, how conditions develop and how they may be prevented. Attention was given to the social and environmental circumstances which could be relevant to treatment and prevention. They took an "holistic" approach which attempted to address the needs of the whole person rather than just symptoms or specific parts of the body.

Self-help and discussion groups "in which women learn and share information about their health with other women" were recognised as important - particularly in relation to developing confidence amongst women in their perceptions of their health needs. Their approach also involved an understanding of the importance of taking action in and with the community in an attempt to ensure that the health system would be more responsive to the demands of women and that other aspects of the social environment which had an impact on women’s health could be addressed.

The Centre began with just a few workers, including a doctor. By 1979 it had eleven workers, at an equivalent of six full-time positions. There were three part-time doctors, two nurses, an information/research worker, an Italian and a Greek worker, two very part-time group workers and an administrator. Usually workers contributed to the service on the basis of their skills and training in these or other relevant areas. A small library was quickly developed and a range of pamphlets written and published to provide information on women’s health.

As a result of numerous events incorporating much public and parliamentary debate, in 1976 the South Australian Health Commission Act came into force and provided a framework for re-organisation and coordination of health services for the "benefit of the people". It's main objective and responsibility was to "promote the health and well-being of the people of this State". It was to be accountable to the Government [through the Minister] for funding, resource allocation and for planning and development of appropriate and effective services. It was also to be accountable to the community and the people through a system of Advisory Committees.

It was this Act which provided the framework for the establishment of Adelaide Women's Community Health Centre [AWCHC] in 1980, for the Elizabeth, Southern & Dale Street Centres set up in the northern, southern and western metropolitan regions respectively.

In November, 1995 the Health Centre was de-incorporated and formally merged with the Women's and Children's Hospital in a Government-directed effort to streamline services and create greater efficiencies in the public health sector [the other women's community health services at Elizabeth, Dale Street and Southern were amalgamated with the community health services in their respective regions]. A Memorandum of Understanding was drawn up with the Women's and Children's Hospital which outlines the responsibilities of the two organisations. Shortly after the amalgamation our name was formally changed to Women's Health Statewide.

In July 2004, The Women's & Children's Hospital and Women's Health Statewide became part of the new Children, Youth & Women's Health Service.

Further reading - read Jocelyn Auer's speech from the Inaugural Statewide Women's Health Forum on 2003.