Womens Health Business Case Report

Women’s Health NSW Business Case – Appendix B

9. FAIRFIELD WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE

Local Population & Health Indicators Fairfield LGA is one of the most socioeconomically disadvantaged LGAs in Greater Sydney. Over 60% of women are on low incomes and 23% of families are headed by a sole parent. The LGA is also the most culturally diverse in NSW; over 70% of women speak a language other than English and almost one-quarter have limited proficiency in spoken English, indicating the need for an interpreter or bi-lingual worker when attending health care services. In the South Western Sydney LHD, 20.5% of women report high, or very high, levels of psychological distress and more than 57% are overweight or obese. Adults in the LHD have poorer overall levels of nutrition and physical activity compared with the rest of NSW. Although reported rates of domestic and family violence are below average, evidence suggests that this is significantly under-reported in culturally diverse communities. For example, in mid-2022, the Bankstown Women’s Health Centre undertook a community survey of 550 women in the Canterbury-Bankstown LGA (a similarly culturally diverse area) to better understand domestic and family violence. Over 50% of respondents indicated that they would not report the violence. Analysis of the Centre’s data also revealed that 90% of women who initially present to the centre with mental health and other socioeconomic issues, subsequently disclose domestic and family violence or other sexual violence. Responding to Emerging and Unmet Needs Fairfield Women’s Health Centre currently provides individual health services and support to over 400 women each year through the Women’s Health Program, with many more participating in health education and support groups and other health-focused community activities. 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 by the Centre to meet community needs. Expanded investment in the Women’s Health Program, envisaged in Scenario 3, would enable the Centre to expand the range of services that it provides to women this culturally diverse community. In particular, the Centre would seek to: • Significantly expand culturally appropriate counselling services to address the needs of growing numbers of women presenting to the centre with trauma related to domestic and family violence; • Enhance its emergency assistance and integrated care capacity to support women and children with immediate and acute issues impacting on their health including homelessness, domestic and family violence, financial and legal issues and food security. Integrated care and support to address the social determinants of health is in high demand and this holistic support increases the effectiveness of other health interventions and improves overall outcomes for women; • Expand its highly successful suite of therapeutic, health education and support and physical activity groups; and • Provide access to massage and other complementary therapy for women experiencing chronic pain related to trauma, mental health issues and other long-term health conditions; • Expand nursing capacity in the Well Women’s Clinic to provide additional health and reproductive screening. Fairfield Women’s Health Centre FAIRFIELD WOMEN’S HEALTH CENTRE is auspiced through a joint venture of the Bankstown and Liverpool Women’s Health Centres and guided by a Steering Committee. Focused on women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the Centre empowers women and addresses individual health needs using inclusive, preventative, trauma-informed and culturally-appropriate practices. ABN Not separately registered WEBSITE https://fwhs.com.au/ FINANCIAL REPORTS See Financial Reports for Bankstown Women’s Health Centre and Liverpool Women’s Health Centre Local Health District South Western Sydney LHD Primary LGA(s) Serviced Fairfield LGA NSW Electorate Fairfield Federal Electorate(s) Fowler, McMahon Site(s) Cabramatta NAME

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

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