Womens Health Business Case Report

Many Centres actively work with Local Health Districts to assist with community and preventative health service delivery by, for example, providing clinic space and administrative and promotional support for NSW Health Nurses to delivery women’s health checks and screening. Several Centres have also provided secondment opportunities for NSW Health staff to expand their skills in community-based health.

On the basis of these findings, Women’s Health Centres have updated their policies and practices and rolled out training to management committees, managers and staff. Centres also took advantage of one-off Social Sector Support funding, provided by the NSW Government during COVID, to upgrade their IT infrastructure and security. The proposed investment in the Women’s Health Program outlined in this business case seeks to ensure ongoing risk mitigation in this area, and maintain high standards across the sector by: • incorporating an annual contribution to IT resources and support, based on a unit cost provision for staff funded under the Women’s Health Program • engaging a central IT project resource within the peak body, Women’s Health NSW, to provide ongoing sector-wide support with IT, data management and cyber security. We note that Women’s Health Centres operating within the South Western Sydney LHD have secured support from NSW Health to assist with managing and operating their IT systems and infrastructure. This arrangement could be reviewed by NSWMinistry of Health and considered for broader implementation across other Local Health Districts. 4.2.6 Engagement with Government Prior to COVID, Women’s Health NSWwas an active participant on the NSW Health NGO Advisory Committee and engaged the sector in a range of projects associated with the Committee’s 3 year strategic plan including: improving commissioning, outcomes frameworks and strengthening communication with Government. This work was delayed with the onset of COVID, but has recently resumed. During the COVID period, Women’s Health Centres also played a key role in supporting local communities with up to date health information, education and practical support. Women’s Health NSWwas part of the Ministry of Health’s monthly NGO Community of Practice and supported rapid dissemination of information throughout the sector. This support was acknowledged in NSW Parliament in October 2021 by the Member for Bankstown. Women’s Health NSW and Women’s Health Centres report that the communication protocols and processes established through COVID have significantly improved their capacity to effectively engage with NSW Health at all levels. At a local level, Women’s Health Centre managers report meeting regularly with their Local Health District NGO Contract Managers to review operations and performance and to discuss emerging local needs and priorities. Local priorities identified by LHDs are reflected in individual funding agreements, accounting for some of the variation in the range of services provided by the Women’s Health Centres.

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Women’s Health NSW – October 2022