The NSW Government has reached a major milestone in delivering on its commitment to boost funding for Women’s Health Centres across NSW to ensure they are properly resourced to provide essential health and wellbeing services.
A funding increase of $34.3 million, announced in the 2023-24 State Budget has been allocated to 19 Women’s Health Centres, including:
– $2,045,500 for Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre (Campsie)
– And multiple women’s health centres across Western Sydney and regional areas.
During the state election the NSW Government committed to boosting funding for Women’s Health Centres to $100 million over five years to support the essential community-based healthcare and domestic violence support for women and children.
Today’s investment ensures that over the next four years $81 million in funding is secured for these vital services.
Women from low income and other priority backgrounds make up the majority of centre clients.
Quotes attributable to Premier Chris Minns:
“This is a vital investment to ensure women have access to key health services across our state.
“We are proud to be making this announcement and to continue working to ease the pressure on our hospital system, as well as boost healthcare services available to women in NSW.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health Ryan Park:
“We’re committed to improving access to healthcare services for women and this significant funding enhancement will help these centres continue to provide important health-related care and support services across NSW.”
Quotes attributable to Sophie Cotsis MP:
The funding boost for Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre by the NSW Government will mean women in the Canterbury community will have greater access to vital services.
The Canterbury community is made up of people from diverse cultures, and it is very helpful that staff at the Centre can also provide services that are multilingual or culturally appropriate.
I’m so pleased more women in our local community are empowered from this important Budget boost.
Quotes attributable to Margherita Basile, Manager of Sydney Women’s Counselling Centre:
This funding boost makes a tremendous difference to our Centre, and we are now better-positioned to serve our local community.
This is set to increase our counselling capacity by 1,000 sessions a year, which means this year we can deliver approximately 4,000 sessions.
More importantly, for the first time ever, we will have a dedicated onsite caseworker who can support clients to resolve their practical and administrative issues, through our Integrated Counselling and Case Management Program.
This also provides us with more certainty, to better retain our staff and expertise.
MEDIA RELEASE
SOPHIE COTSIS MP
