Women’s Health Loddon Mallee (WHLM) has welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of a $9.2 million funding uplift for Victorian Women’s Health Services, providing a one-year commitment as part of continued support in working towards the health, safety and wellbeing of women and girls across the state. However, WHLM says lasting impact depends upon securing ongoing, sustainable investment in prevention.
“Sustained investment in prevention is critical,” said WHLM Chief Executive Officer Kellie Dunn. “With adequate, long term funding women and girls can be supported earlier, easing pressure on crisis services and strengthening the health of our communities over time.”
Since 1989, WHLM has worked to prevent the underlying causes of poor health and harm for women, girls, and gender diverse people. As one of 12 Victorian women’s health services, WHLM delivers evidence-based primary prevention programs that address the social and structural drivers of poor health and gendered violence, including gender inequality and systemic barriers in the Loddon Mallee region.
Operating across Buloke, Campaspe, Central Goldfields, Gannawarra, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Macedon Ranges, Mildura, Mount Alexander and Swan Hill, WHLM recognises the compounding impacts of rurality and regional disadvantages on women’s health. Women and girls in the region experience consistently poorer sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes than Victorian averages, driven by service gaps, workforce shortages, and the need to travel for essential care. Significant investment is needed to reduce inequity, prevent avoidable health system costs, and improve lifelong health outcomes for women and gender‑diverse people.
Sexual and reproductive health indicators in the Loddon Mallee highlight significant structural disadvantage and unmet need, as shown in recent data from the Women’s Health Atlas. Some local government areas have little to no access to abortion or contraceptive services, while the region experiences higher rates of sexually transmitted infections than the Victorian average. Cervical screening rates are also lower, with seven out of ten LGAs in the Loddon Mallee falling below the state average.
“Living in regional communities can intensify inequality and limit access to health services and support,” Ms. Dunn said. “Our deep understanding of local contexts means we can reach women and communities that are harder to reach, or that may be experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage.”
Victorian Women’s Health Services play a critical role in preventing chronic disease, delivering sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education, and promoting cervical cancer screening – supporting women and girls to make informed decisions about their health and stay well, reducing the need for hospital care. This prevention approach is cost effective, place-based and far‑reaching, improving health, safety and economic participation while reducing long‑term pressure on hospitals and crisis services.
“Prevention is about building the conditions for safety, health and equality,” Ms Dunn said. “It’s about giving women and girls the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health, so they can stay well, rather than needing treatment later in crisis.”
Women’s Health Loddon Mallee will continue to advocate for sustained investment to continue connecting government policy with local needs, delivering strong returns for communities across the region, and improving health and wellbeing for generations to come.”