Launching Victoria’s first theory of change to address inequities in women’s sexual and reproductive health
The Victorian Women’s Health Services have today released A Theory of Change in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Victorian Women, the state’s first framework seeking to enable gender transformative action to improve women’s sexual and reproductive rights, health and wellbeing.
Developed through Gender Equity Victoria’s Sexual and Reproductive Health Community of Practice, this Theory of Change is the work of 12 women’s health organisations. As leading advocates for women’s sexual and reproductive health in Victoria, women’s health services seek to use this framework to initiate action with a range of partners to develop programs, policies and practices.
This framework was developed to guide the collective and individual work of organisations to track gender equitable progress towards our shared vision for the full realisation of rights of all Victorian women to optimal sexual and reproductive health and wellbeing.
“Women’s sexual and reproductive health is not just a women’s issue, it is a gender equity issue. The reality is that there are large gender disparities in sexual health, where women experience poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes.” Said Kit McMahon, Chair of GEN VIC.
“Women are still struggling to get access to abortion and contraception, particularly migrant women and women living in rural and regional Victoria, and those that do provide these services find it near impossible to meet demand.”
“In Victoria we have Australia’s first strategy to address women’s sexual and reproductive health. This is a landmark achievement. We must ensure this investment will continue and that it will respond to the gaps in terms of access and research.” Said McMahon.
A Theory of Change in Sexual and Reproductive Health for Victoria Women aligns with the Victorian Government’s Women’s sexual and reproductive health key priorities 2017/2020 and the Safe and Strong: A Victorian Gender Equity Strategy.
A Theory of Change is available from all Victorian Women’s Health Services and also available on GEN VIC’s website, www.genvic.org.au/resources/practice-resources/