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As a community based women's health centre, Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre offers a wholistic approach to understanding, managing and supporting women and girls to make decisions about their own health and well-being. An Incorporated Association, Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre is managed by a community based management committee and employs permanent and sessional/causual staff as required. Most of the funding received by the Centre is from the New South Wales Department of Health. COUNSELLING is provided by appointment on a range of issues such as domestic violence, sexual assault, grief, childhood issues, post-traumatic stress and general life-issues. BWGHC has recently reviewed its counselling services to ensure consistency in its approach and better meet the needs of the local area. In acknowledgement of the imbalance of power women experience in society, BWGHC has developed a model of counselling based on Judith Herman’s therapeutic goals of safety, recovery and reconnection. We provide a professional, respectful and confidential service for women requesting counselling to address emotional and psychological issues. Girls aged 12-16 who request counselling will be provided with advice and information and be referred to an appropriate adolescent agency.
GROUPS AND ONE-OFF WORKSHOPS are run during school terms on a variety of lifestyle and support topics such as yoga, belly-dancing, walking, confidence building, stress management, positive parenting, and post-natal depression. Each year the centre holds consultations with the local community to assist with the identification of which groups and workshops to run. Facilitators are recruited through a tender system and all have appropriate training and experience. All groups are evaluated to ensure we are continuing to meet the needs of our service users. The aim of the group program is to offer a broad range of high quality health related educational and support groups and an introduction to various physical activity groups to as many women as possible who live, work and study in the Blacktown LGA, at no or very low cost to women. BLISS (Blacktown Lesbian Information and Social Support) provides ongoing support and information for lesbians. The group meets after hours (on average two times each month) at the centre. The group is widely promoted through various forums and organisations that address the needs of lesbians. Activities undertaken by the group are decided upon by group members and include guest speakers, video nights and dinners out. OUTREACH TALKS are provided to community groups on a variety of topics ranging from violence against women to communication skills and nutrition. Generally these are in response to requests made by existing groups. MEDICAL SERVICES are provided by appointment for women's health issues such as pap smears, breast checks, post-termination checks, STD screening, menopause, contraception advice, and information on women's health issues.
LEGAL CLINICS are run each fortnight offering free legal advice. These clinics are a partnership with Womens Legal Resources Centre. Clinics are designed to provide women with legal information and advice. Solicitors are not able to provide representation in court. PODIATRY is provided once per week by appointment to women who meet strict criteria. Given the high demand and lack of podiatrist positions in the public sector the centre gives priority to aged women who have a medical condition which impacts on their feet. MASSAGE is available one day per week. Among the many benefits of massage are increased circulation, increased mobility and relaxation.
NATUROPATHY means "nature cure" and involves working with the body's own natural healing ability and is available one day per week. Some of the different therapies utilised include Nutrition (using diet is often possible to maintain good health, prevent disease and reduce illness), Herbal Medicine (one of the oldest forms of healing, making use of various parts of plants to promote normal functioning of the body), homeopathy (a system of medicine that uses very small amounts of naturally occurring substances to bring the body back into a healthy balance) and Iridology (the study of the iris. Observation of the variations in colour and fibre provides information about the health of the individual).
The centre also provides GENERAL INFORMATION on a range of women's health issues, as well as HEALTH PROMOTION, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, LOBBYING and ADVOCACY. The services provided by Blacktown Women's and Girls' Health Centre Inc are provided within a feminist context which: · Recognises the social, environmental, economic, physical, emotional and cultural factors which influence women's health. · Recognises and challenges the effects of sex-role stereotyping and gender discrimination on women's health and well being. · Reflects the whole of a woman's lifespan, their various and changing roles and responsibilities, not just their reproductive life. · Recognises the importance of maintaining well-being by the focus on preventative practices. · Actively encourages the empowerment of women in both the personal and social aspects of their lives. BLACKTOWN WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' HEALTH CENTRE VALUES WOMEN'S OWN KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND THEIR RIGHT TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR HEALTH. WE WILL ALWAYS PROMOTE AND PROVIDE ACTIVITIES WHICH FOSTER THE GENERAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF WOMENS AND GIRLS. BY WORKING TOGETHER WITH OTHER SERVICES AND THE COMMUNITY WE ARE COMMITTED TO BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SOCIAL ACTION, ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC DEBATE.
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