Womens Health Business Case Report

CONCLUSION

Women’s Health Centres have been providing a unique model of integrated, accessible, community-based health care to women and children across NSW for more than 40 years. This integrated model of health service provision, acknowledged by NSW Health as the optimal strategy, recognises that wellness relies on positive, connected, structural interventions that include adequate housing, equitable access to services, being able to contribute to the economy and being empowered to have self-agency. The Women’s Health Program and the work of the NGO Women’s Health Centres has become an essential part of the NSW primary integrated health care system. The Centres’ extensive relationships and networks in local communities, and demonstrated commitment to sector-wide collaboration, make them highly effective partners with government, non- government, business and community to enhance health, safety and well-being outcomes for women and girls across NSW. After 36 years without a structural funding adjustment, Women’s Health Centres urgently require additional investment to sustain their skilled workforce and continue providing a contemporary community-based health service for women. Analysis indicates that investment in the Women’s Health Program delivers a substantial minimum 71% return on investment to NSW Government in health care and other savings. The critical investment in the Women’s Health Program presented in this business case will yield health, social and economic benefits for women and children in NSW for years to come.

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Women’s Health NSW – October 2022