Local women’s charity wins national award

A LOCAL not-for-profit organisation has been recognised for its achievements at a national level.

Women’s Health and Wellbeing Barwon South West (WHWBSW) took home the Australian Charity Award for Outstanding Achievement.

The award recognises organisations with outstanding results through initiatives significantly benefitting charitable causes.

WHWBSW is a registered charity committed to gender equality and women’s health and received the award for their work on the Respect 2040 partnership.

The charity was the driving force behind the partnership, working with other organisations in the region to prevent violence against women.

WHWBSW chief executive officer Jodie Hill said it was really exciting to be recognised on a national platform.

“It feels amazing to be seen and to be recognised as doing something important and impactful.

“It signifies for us that our work is valued and that it is important and although we’ve been recognised now, we know there’s a lot more work to do.

“It just gives us a boost of energy and enthusiasm to just keep working as hard as we can to achieve as much as we can for gender equity and for the prevention of violence against women.”

Ms Hill said the work WHWBSW was doing with Respect 2040 and the significant collaboration across the community had led to the charity getting the award, and acknowledged all of the partners across the Respect 2040 group who had contributed along the way.

“For us to have so many people and so many organisations actually working and moving towards doing some really tangible things to prevent violence against women, I think is a really special thing and it’s nice that it’s been recognised as such.”

Adding to the meaning of the award, it was received during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence, with Ms Hill saying this was the “cherry on top”.

For more information on WHWBSW and the work they do, head to womenshealthbsw.org.au