Womens Health Business Case Report

Women’s Health NSW Business Case – Appendix B

4. BLUE MOUNTAINS WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE

Local Population & Health Indicators The Blue Mountains LGA, while overall relatively socioeconomically affluent, includes areas of higher disadvantage in the upper and- mid mountains suburbs of Katoomba, Mount Victoria, Blackheath and Lawson. Reported rates of sexual assault in the area are significantly above the state average and have remained high over the last three years. Due in part to the ageing population, 4.0% of women also report having 3 or more chronic and long-term health conditions. The Lithgow LGA, also serviced by the Blue Mountains Women’s Health Centre via outreach, has significant socioeconomic disadvantage. Almost 20% of families are headed by a sole parent and 56% of women are on low incomes. In addition, 5.5% of women have 3 or more chronic and long-term health conditions, well above the NSW average. Lithgow also has high rates of domestic and family violence and sexual assault, leading to hospitalisation of women. These rates have continued to increase significantly over the past three years, well in excess of the state average. In the Nepean Blue Mountains LHD, 20.8% of women experience high, or very high, levels of psychological distress and almost two- thirds of women are overweight or obese. Responding to Emerging and Unmet Needs Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre currently provides health services and support to over 3000 women each year through the Women’s Health Program. Based in the upper blue mountains, the Centre currently provides on-site mental health and clinical services to women in the Blue Mountains and outreach mental health and integrated care services to women in Lithgow. Sustainable investment in the program is reflected in Scenario 1 with a recalibration of costs to deliver currently contracted services and, Scenario 2 reflecting the level of services and activities currently being delivered to meet community needs. Expanded investment in the Women’s Health Program, envisaged in Scenario 3, would enable the Centre to expand its services to more women, with a particular focus on the Lithgow area, where the level of unmet need is significant. In particular, the Centre would seek to • Expand counselling and integrated care capacity to respond to the urgent need for mental health support, especially for women experiencing immediate crisis and ongoing trauma from the rapid growth in domestic and family violence and sexual assault; and • Provide additional health screening, clinical and allied health services through the Well Women’s Clinic to support the ageing population of women in the Blue Mountains, women with multiple health conditions, and those experiencing chronic pain resulting from trauma, mental health and other long-term illnesses. https://www.bmwhrc.org FINANCIAL REPORTS https://www.acnc.gov.au/charity/charities/631f1149-39af-e811-a963-000d3ad24077/documents/ Local Health District Nepean Blue Mountains LHD Primary LGA(s) Serviced Blue Mountains LGA; Lithgow LGA NSW Electorate(s) Blue Mountains; Bathurst Federal Electorate(s) Macquarie; Calare Site(s) Katoomba; Lithgow (outreach) NAME Blue Mountains Women’s Health and Resource Centre BLUE MOUNTAINS WOMEN’S HEALTH AND RESOURCE CENTRE is an incorporated association and registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) as a Charity with Public Benevolent Institution status. Established in 1981, we exist to redress health disadvantages women face; and to create equitable access by promoting women’s health, well-being, rights and dignity. ABN 18 334 739 140 WEBSITE

Women’s Health NSW Business Case – Supplementary Publication: Appendix B

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