Centre philosophy & principles of health care
Liverpool Women's Health Centre operates from a feminist perspective that views health within a social context, as endorsed by governments throughout Australia, through the endorsement of the National Women's Health Policy.
This view recognises that:
- health is determined by a broad range of social, environmental, economic and biological factors;
- differences in health status and health objectives are linked to gender, age, socio-economic status, ethnicity, disability, location and environment, racism, sex-role stereotyping, gender inequality and discrimination, ageism, sexuality and sexual preference;
- health promotion, disease prevention, equity of access to appropriate and affordable services and strengthening the primary health care system are necessary, along with high quality illness treatment service, information, consultation, advocacy and community development are important elements of the health process.
Pro-choice abortion rally, Sydney circa 1975
In accordance with these principles, Liverpool Women's Health Centre aims to provide a service which:
- encompasses all of women's lifespans and reflects women's various roles in Australian society, not just their reproductive role;
- promotes the participation of women in debate and decision making about health issues, their own health care, health service policy, planning, delivery and evaluation;
- recognises women's rights as health care consumers, to be treated with dignity, in an environment which provides for privacy, informed consent, confidentiality and safety;
- acknowledges that informed decisions about health and health care require accessible information, which is appropriately targeted for different socio-economic, educational and cultural groups;
- uses existing data, research and policy concerning women's health, as well as incorporating women's views about their own health and the best strategies to address their health needs, in service planning and development;
- provides appropriate women's health care to women in local communities within a statewide, coordinated approach;
- ensures equity and accessibility of services without financial, cultural, geographic or other barriers;
- ensures effective community management and operation of the centre by women;
- provides a broad range of services and strategies within a preventive and holistic framework, which:
- are provided by women for women;
- value women's own knowledge and experience;
- facilitate the sharing of women's skills, knowledge and experience;
- link women's individual experience and health needs to the social and cultural context of women's lives;
- empower women;
- challenge sex-role stereotyping and gender discrimination which affect health;
- increase the accessibility, sensitivity and acceptability of health services for women;
- relate to identified health priorities at the local and state level.
These principles are informed by the National Women's Health Policy through the Discussion Paper "National Policy on Women's Health - A Framework for Change" (1988) and taken from the Manual of Standards for Women's Health Centres (1995).
