To celebrate the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day, Women’s Health Matters and BreastScreen ACT held our Multicultural Women’s Health Hub, an event designed to bring women’s health services together in one accessible community space.
The event allowed community members to engage directly with local health services and community organisations.
We know equitable access to care remains essential, but for many migrant and refugee women, as well as other members of the community, knowing where to go and what services are freely available is not always straightforward. By bringing together key services and knowledgeable professionals from across the ACT, the event created an opportunity for women and gender diverse people to:
- Ask questions in a safe, welcoming environment
- Access free health checks on the day, including mammograms, cervical screening, and Hep C finger prick tests
- Access trusted information about screening, prevention, and support
- Build confidence in managing their own health
- Connect with organisations that can assist them beyond the event
The event reflects a shared commitment to reducing barriers and empowering women living in the ACT to access health information, screening services, and community-based support.
Above are pictured L-R are staff from Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, Women’s Health Matters, Working Women’s Centre, and YWCA Canberra.
The Health Hub was attended by seventeen health and community support organisations, including:
- Bosom Buddies
- BreastScreen ACT
- Canberra Rape Crisis Centre
- Canberra Sexual Health Centre
- Cancer Council ACT
- Community Care, Canberra Health Services
- Fearless Women
- Hepatitis ACT
- Meridian
- MSI
- Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT
- Services Australia
- Women’s Legal Centre
- YWCA Canberra
Over one hundred people attended the event, with more than fifty tests, including breast scans, cervical self-tests, and Hepatitis C finger prick tests done on the day. Attendees reported that the day enabled them to learn about community groups, and health and wellbeing programs.
Above are pictured L-R are staff from Meridian, Canberra Sexual Health Services, and event organisers Anushe Khan from Women’s Health Matters and Jodie Kirkness from BreastScreen ACT.
We are so grateful to BreastScreen ACT for their involvement and support running the event, as well as all the organisations who attended.
Taking care of your health shouldn’t be complicated. By bringing services together under one roof, Women’s Health Hub helped encourage people to take the first step toward proactive, preventive health care.