An introduction from our new CEO
A quick note to you all in week 6 of my tenure as CEO of GenWest.
As Women’s Health West, this organisation had a strong and proud history of representing and speaking up for women of the west. It is an extraordinary legacy on which to build a new, even stronger chapter of service delivery, advocacy and gender justice as GenWest.
As a social worker by trade, I have a long history of working in disability, women’s services and family violence.
For the last 20 years I have lived and worked in Mparntwe Alice Springs with leadership roles in family violence and politics.
The desert has been an amazing home for me and my family, but the opportunity and challenge to lead GenWest back on Wurundjeri country was one I could not resist.
Not even the coldest start to a Melbourne winter in decades has waned that excitement, although there’s been some muttering about the morning cold under my breath as I step off the train at Middle Footscray!
My first impression is the extraordinary resilience, skill and professionalism of the whole team. The team continued to provide vital services throughout COVID, while also facing increased demand and developing new services such as bilingual health education.
At the same time, we are part of a reform process across the family violence sector which has meant significant growth at GenWest.
The focus of the next six months is the opening of the Orange Doors (a multi-service hub for family violence victim survivors) across the west, a new refuge, and increased funding for our prevention and health promotion work.
We also know that many in our communities will be strongly impacted by rising interest rates and cost of living rises - especially petrol, electricity and food, low wage growth and insecure housing and work. All of these issues disproportionately impact women and gender diverse people. The need for a strong voice demanding gender justice and change is greater than ever.
We encourage you to consider joining GenWest as a member. It’s free to join, and our members help to strengthen our voice as we work towards gender justice and change.
A strong, engaged membership is an important way for us to continue to represent our communities in the west. Find out more here.
I look forward to working with you to ensure we continue the fight for gender equity and justice in the west.
