Time to read:
A reflection on what’s been possible – and why we need to keep going.
When the Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre first opened its doors in 1986, it began with a simple and powerful idea: that women in our community deserved access to healthcare that truly saw them.
Not dismissed. Not rushed. Not told their pain was probably nothing.
Forty years on, that idea is as relevant as ever – and this year, as we celebrate this milestone, I find myself reflecting not just on how far we’ve come, but on what made the journey possible.
Investment in women’s health changes lives. I know this not as an abstract principle, but as something I witness every week in the work of our teams across Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Yaegl nations.
What the enhancement funding to women’s health looks like in practice
In the 2023–24 NSW State Budget, the Minns Labour Government delivered a significant funding increase to Women’s Health Centres across NSW – including to our Centre here in Coffs Harbour. That investment was a direct result of years of advocacy from women, from our sector, and from organisations like Women’s Health NSW, who refused to stop making the case.
What has that funding made possible? In practical terms: more clinicians, shorter wait times, and more women receiving timely care. It has allowed us to respond to population growth, to emerging health needs, and to the increasing complexity of care that regional communities face.
It has also strengthened how the broader health system works. Partnerships with our Local Health District have increased specialist clinic capacity, reduced waiting times, and enabled women to access essential care locally rather than travelling significant distances. A collaborative model supporting local colposcopy services, for example, increased service capacity by approximately 40% – a meaningful outcome for women in our region who need timely follow-up care.
In 2023, our Centre was selected as one of only 22 Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics nationally – and the first of its kind on the North Coast. Women in our region who had spent years being told their pain was normal, being turned away, or made to feel like they were too much – finally had a service designed specifically for them.
This is what funding enables. Not line items on a budget. Real change in real women’s lives.
The research confirms what our community already knew
A recent Australia Institute report found that only 14% of women aged 18–34 feel their GP always takes their concerns seriously – compared to 50% of men aged 65 and over. I wish I could say that finding surprised me.
Women have been telling us this for decades. The data simply caught up.
It is why outreach matters just as much as clinic doors. Our enhanced funding has extended our reach to people experiencing homelessness, to refugee communities, to young women, and to culturally diverse groups who face the greatest barriers to care. Women’s Health Centres are not supplementary to the health system – we are a critical part of it, improving referral pathways, supporting shared care models, and reducing demand on hospitals and primary care.
Our model – trauma-informed, women-centred, accessible regardless of income – is not a nice-to-have. It is a direct response to a healthcare system that was not built with women in mind. Every time a woman walks through our door and feels heard, often for the first time, that is the funding at work.
Why we need to keep making the case
I am proud of what our team has achieved, and deeply grateful for the government investment that has made it possible. But I also want to be honest – the work is certainly not finished.
As a sector, we need to continue making a strong, united case that women’s health remains a priority. That case is built not on argument, but on evidence – on the stories of women who accessed care they would otherwise not have had; on outreach programs that reached communities that felt overlooked; on early intervention that has helped ease pressure on an already stretched hospital system.
The NSW Government’s investment in Women’s Health Centres has been critical — and must continue and expand to address the significant unmet need across our communities.
To the women of our region
If you have ever used our services, thank you for trusting us. Your experience is what makes this work possible, and your story is what makes the case for its continuation.
And if you haven’t yet – we are here. We have been here for forty years. And we intend to keep going.
How you can support women’s health in our region
Forty years of care has been made possible by more than government funding. It has been built by the community – by individuals, businesses and organisations who believe that women’s health is everyone’s business.
As we look to the next chapter, we are inviting our community to be part of our journey a more direct way.
Through Health Voyage’s Community partnership and Giving Program, there are meaningful ways to contribute – whatever that looks like for you.
For individuals, every gift makes a difference: A contribution of $50 helps fund a group session for women in our community. $500 supports access to specialist care for a woman who couldn’t otherwise afford it. For those in a position to give $1,000 or more, we’d love to have a conversation about the specific programs your support could help sustain or grow.
For local businesses and organisations: We are actively building community partnerships that go beyond traditional sponsorship – built on shared values, with genuine visibility and connection to real outcomes. Whether that’s a named program partnership, a workplace giving arrangement, or co-presenting an event, we’re open to conversations that make sense for you.
One project we are particularly excited about is the renovation of a dedicated group space at headspace Coffs Harbour – a place where young people can connect, heal and build resilience through therapeutic groups, cultural programs and art therapy. The total cost is $40,000, and we are looking for founding supporters who want to leave something lasting in this community.
All donations to Health Voyage are tax-deductible, and every contribution – large or small – makes a real difference.
If you’d like to give, or simply find out more, we’d love to hear from you. Contact us here – philanthropy@healthvoyage.org.au
Together, we can make sure the next forty years are even stronger than the last.
Taz
Tazmyn Jewell is CEO of Health Voyage, operating the Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre, headspace Coffs Harbour and headspace Grafton across Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Yaegl nations.
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