Health service joins equality alliance

GRAMPIANS Health has joined with Women’s Health Grampians as a member of the Communities of Respect and Equality Alliance.

The CoRE alliance comprises 124 organisations and groups in the Grampians region who have committed to taking action to reducing gendered violence.

Grampians Health interim chief executive officer Dale Fraser said the alliance aligns with the health service’s values of “providing greater access to more inclusive and safe care for vulnerable and diverse community groups.”

“As a Grampians-based health service provider, and with a workforce of around 80 per cent women, we will use our role to drive cultural change,” he said.

“In all aspects of our work we will take a stand for gender equality and work to create a safe community for all.

“The signing is just one step in our commitment, Grampians Health has made it a priority to create a diversity, inclusion and equity plan which will put services and programs in place to address the specific needs of diverse and vulnerable groups in the Grampians region.”

Chair of the CoRE Alliance and chief executive officer of Women’s Health Grampians Marianne Hendron said it was important Grampians Health, which was established on 1 November, joined the alliance.

“Regional health organisations have been an integral part of the CoRE alliance,” she said.

“After significant structural changes in regional health delivery over the past year it is reassuring to see the Grampians Health leadership decisively committing to CoRE’s key vision; a safe, equal and respectful society for everyone, where women and their children live free from gender-based violence and every person is valued, heard, respected and empowered.

“We are currently supporting health services across the region in implementing the Gender Equality Act and we look forward to sustaining and embedding that work through strong engagement in CoRE further progressing their commitment to gender equality and the prevention of violence against women.”