|
Below you will find a copy of the main stories that
appeared in the April/May 2003 edition of the QWHN News.
NEW
LEASE OF LIFE
The enthusiasm and
commitment of current members of the Management Committee of the
Queensland Women’s Health Network has meant a new lease of life for the
Network in 2003. Also, our new coordinator, Jeane Griffiths, has brought
new ideas and a fresh approach to the task. We are happy to welcome her as
an integral part of the team.
The Role
of the Network
In line with our
Agreement with Queensland Health, our role is that of facilitating
networking between all Agencies when requested. Since women’s health in
its broadest sense is concerned with the physical, mental, social and
spiritual health of women, our aim is to make contact with as many
agencies as possible - Government and Non-government, Indigenous and
Non-Indigenous, as well as those offering support to multicultural and
refugee women, women with disabilities and lesbian women.
Already this year, we
have reached out to Hospital employees, Women’s Health Centres, Community
Health Centres, Domestic
Violence Services, Sexual Assault Services, Mental Health Agencies,
Disability Services, Migrant Services, Multicultural Support Groups and
Life Line.
There are three core ways
by which QWHN attempts to facilitate networking for the purpose of
improving women’s health and wellbeing:
- Queensland Women’s
Health Network News, our Quarterly Newsletter distributed around the
State;
- Women’s Community
Health Forums, organised by local agencies, assisted by the rep for that
particular area and attended by our chairperson and regional rep; and
- Our Website, currently
being redeveloped by Jeane
Participation in National Project
We’re happy to announce
that, in April of this year, we were approached by two national bodies
with requests that we participate in programs they are developing.
One
was Women’s Services Network (WESNET Inc). Representatives of WESNET
attended our meetings in Brisbane on 5 April and outlined their plans to visit two or
three centres in Queensland gathering best-practice information from
Women’s Services in those areas, and suggesting ways in which QWHN might
assist their project. After a period of brainstorming, our reps from Mt
Isa and Townsville offered to liaise with WESNET in developing a program
of visits to Indigenous and Non-Indigenous agencies in Western and
Northern regions. Our offer was met with much enthusiasm and plans are
coming together for visits in August 2003.
The other was a contact
from the National Baha’i Working Group on Racial and Cultural Harmony requesting that
our chairperson be involved in a national project they are embarking on to
address issues of racism in Australian society. Because racism has the
capacity to impact heavily on women’s mental and emotional health, we have
been pleased to be able to accept that invitation and will report to
Queensland Women’s Health Network News after the first meeting in Sydney
in September.
Membership Drive
If you are not yet a
member of QWHN, we invite you to join with us in the important task of
encouraging collaboration and networking between all agencies concerned
with women’s health. Simply fill out the membership form on page 8 and
return it with your membership fee. If you are already a member, we invite
you to speak with others, individuals and agencies, with a view to
encouraging them to take up membership.
If you have any queries
about the Network, or any suggestions, please don’t hesitate to contact
Jeane or myself or the rep in your area. See page three for contact
numbers.
Betty McLellan,
Chairperson
REPORTS FROM
REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES
SANDRA O’BRIEN, CENTRAL QLD
The last few weeks have
certainly been busy. Friday 3rd April I attended a Wesnet Women’s Legal
Forum in Brisbane. Ruth Busch was one of the speakers, she is so
passionate about the abuse in women and children’s lives. There were
several speakers who shared their own horrific experiences as victims of
violence. Let’s hope we can improve the Domestic Violence and Child Abuse
laws in Australia in the not too distant future.
Saturday 5th April QWHN
held a meeting in Brisbane, special because we were all present and
welcomed Lillian Gray from Cherbourg as a new rep. Glad to have her on
board. We had a very productive meeting.
I attended the Women’s
Health coordinator’s meeting held in Rockhampton on Thursday 10th April.
On 7th May I met Betty
McLellan, our chairperson, at the Rockhampton Airport and very soon we
were on our way to Emerald. I attended the ‘Shame’ workshop and the QWHN
public forum on ‘Global Violence’ both presented by Betty. We are pleased
to welcome two new members to the Network as a result of our discussions
in Emerald.
The Domestic Violence
Service of Central Queensland, situated at Emerald certainly is a busy
place. The workers are doing an excellent job and it was good to be shown
around their new (and much bigger) premises.
BETTY McLELLAN, NORTHERN QLD
The Northern region which
stretches from Mackay in the south to Ingham in the north, west to
Hughenden and east to Palm Island represents a hive of activity in terms of
women’s health. Workers in Women’s Health Centres, Hospitals, Family
Planning, Sexual Health, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Aged Care,
Mental Health and Disability Services work tirelessly to improve women’s
health and wellbeing.
In November 2002, I
participated in a very successful weekend workshop organized by the
Women’s Health Centre in Mackay. The two days which offered serious
reflection on women’s emotional and physical health together with
opportunities for creativity in the arts, yoga, meditation, relaxation,
etc. began both mornings with Tai Chi led by Suzanne McLauchlan. The
Saturday evening program was filled with music, dancing and lots of
laughter.
Last year, I paid two
visits to Palm Island where I spent time speaking with Palm Island
Community Council members as well as workers at Kootana Women’s Centre.
The work on Palm Island is difficult but is proceeding well.
In Townsville/Thuringowa,
the Women’s Health section of the North Queensland Combined Women’s
Services staffed by Penny Jansen and Dale Preston, is stretched to the
limit with calls for health information and counselling services. As the
Health Promotions worker, Penny is organizing a Women’s Community Health
Forum involving Indigenous and Non-Indigenous workers from Townsville’s
vast array of Health Services, around the theme: “WOMEN’S HEALTH 2003:
Working Together for a Healthier Community”. It promises to be a very
energetic and informative program, which I’ll be pleased to report on in
our next Queensland Women’s Health Network Newsletter.
DEATH OF TRAFFICKED
WOMAN IN DETENTION CENTRE
The NSW
Coroner's report into the death of Puongtong Simaplee in Villawood
Detention Centre on 26 September 2001, confirms human rights concerns
about the treatment of women who are trafficked in Australia, Sex
Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward and Human Rights Commissioner Sev
Ozdowski said on April 28. The Coroner expressed concerns about Ms
Simaplee's illegal entry into Australia (as a trafficked person) and said
"it would be hoped that the law enforcement agencies will use whatever
means are necessary to eradicate this practice and prosecute those
responsible". The commission heartily endorses those sentiments.
Coroner Carl Milovanovich described the practice of trafficking as
"illegal and morally offensive", but went on to observe "it would
seem that there is evidence that young women are enticed to this country on the premise that they will
be provided with work and earn a good income, only to be exploited and
forced to work in brothels".
"If the coroner is correct, and there is growing evidence that this is the
case, then it is critical that the Government move to develop a
multi-agency approach to this problem that does more than deport the women
(and thus the evidence) concerned," said Commissioner Goward. Dr Ozdowski
expressed his concern that: "The Coroner's examination of the health care
of Ms Simpalee highlights the tragic consequences that can arise when
detention takes a higher priority than the health needs of individuals."
The Commissioners supported the recommendations of the Coroner to improve
medical record-keeping at Villawood Detention centre and that detention
centre staff should not be responsible for vital medical observations in a
non clinical setting. If the detention centre does not allow for medical
observations in a clinical setting, then consideration should be given to
having the detainee hospitalised. They also agreed with the Coroner's
support for DIMIA and ACM facilities to establish a dialogue with
organisations such as Project Respect which might help to identify, assess
and provide appropriate medical, community and translator services to
women who might be victims of trafficking.
At the time of the death of Puongtong Simaplee, Australia had not signed
the Protocol to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons,
especially women and children, which supplements the United Nations
Convention against
Transnational Crime. Australia has since signed the protocol and even
though it is not yet in force it is a statement of Australia's obligations
to trafficked persons, especially women and children.
Source: Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission, via CATWA
REGIONAL WOMEN'S
HEALTH FORUMS KICK OFF IN EMERALD
The Domestic Violence Service of Central Queensland hosted
our first Women’s Community Health Forum in Emerald on Friday 9 May
attended by Chairperson Betty McLellan and Central Queensland
Representative Sandra O’Brien. Betty gave a paper on Global Violence and
it’s effect on women’s emotional and mental health. The lively discussion
which followed led directly into the next session which focused on the effects of domestic and family
violence on women and children in the home. After lunch, we had a
structured but informal discussion around the topic “Working with Male
Perpetrators of Domestic Violence”.
This session was attended by men and women who work with
perpetrators and/or with Anger Management groups in the Central Queensland
region.
In addition to the input and discussion, the opportunity
for networking was very much appreciated by Queensland Women’s Health
Network members. Agencies and groups represented at the Forum were the Domestic Violence Service, Sexual Assault, Mental
Health Queensland, Family Support, Community Corrections, QCWA and Life
Line.
Our visit coincided with the Tenth Anniversary celebrations
of the Domestic Violence Service and we were pleased to be able to offer
congratulations to Coordinator, Robyn Cross, and the rest of the
hard-working team in Emerald at the Dinner/Dance which had been organised
to mark the occasion. What a night we had!
Sandra O'Brien, Central Qld Rep.
QWHN News - September/October 2003
QWHN News - December/January
2003/04
QWHN News - March 2004
QWHN News -
August 2004
QWHN News - February 2005
* NEW *
QWHN News - June 2005
|