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WDV eNews
29 June 2026
WDV News and Updates:
Opportunites
Hear From Our Hubs:
Community News and Events:
Additional Updates:
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Release of Get Your House in Order: Women’s Health Services Capacity Building Project Evaluation Report
We’re pleased to release Get Your House in Order, the evaluation report of WDV’s Women’s Health Services Capacity Building Project (2022–2026). The project has strengthened Victoria’s primary prevention sector by partnering with seven Women’s Health Services and one family violence peak body to embed gender and disability equity into prevention of gender‑based violence.
The evaluation shows that organisations are moving beyond training to apply practical tools, redesign systems and influence service delivery. Growing participation in shared learning spaces reflects a sector ready to collaborate and build its professional capability.
The report also highlights persistent structural barriers. Short‑term funding cycles continue to disrupt continuity and relationships, while responsibility for inclusive practice often remains siloed rather than embedded through executive leadership. Stable investment and whole‑of‑organisation accountability are essential for long‑term change.
Key recommendations include:
- Expanding the WDV’s Prevention Audit Toolkit to support regional and rural adaptation and help organisations meet positive duty and Disability Discrimination Act requirements.
- Shifting to strategic, CEO‑level agreements backed by dedicated funding for long‑term partnerships.
- Aligning prevention deliverables under a consistent framework that captures meaningful internal change.
The Get Your House in Order Evaluation Report reflects the commitment and collaboration of the Women’s Health Services sector: [PDF] [Word]
Thank you to all partners, contributors and funders who made this work possible.
Four Partnership Snapshots highlighting collaborative achievements and outcomes across the project are also available:
- Women’s Health Grampians & Women with Disabilities Victoria: [PDF] [Word]
- Safe and Equal & Women with Disabilities Victoria: [PDF] [Word]
- Women’s Health In the North & Women with Disabilities Victoria: [PDF] [Word]
- Women’s Health in the South East & Women with Disabilities Victoria: [PDF] [Word]
The Prevention of Gender and Disability‑Based Violence (PGDV) Audit Toolkit is available on our website to support organisations to assess and strengthen disability‑inclusive prevention practice. You can find the PGDV Audit Toolkit on the WDV website: [webpage]
For support to audit your organisation’s gender and disability practices, contact us at GandD@wdv.org.au |
From Ableism to Allyship: Bendigo and Surrounds Inclusive Community Forum
It’s been a month since the Bendigo Leadership Hub hosted the From Ableism to Allyship: Bendigo and Surrounds Inclusive Community Forum and we are still celebrating the conversations and connections.
Guests of the event have told us they loved the food, the panel and the community focus. “It touched my heart to hear the stories, especially Renay’s stories of being a mother with a disability,” a working group member reflected. Also sharing their positive experience at the Forum a guest commented, “Fantastic real stories that create learnings to inform what being an ally looks like.” Once again we would love to thank the Bendigo community for getting around this important event and the wonderful feedback. “Loved today, more of this please it was excellent.” And we must agree. So - WDV members - what disability-led, community inclusion activities are you keen to see the CIWE team and Hubs do next? |
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Image Description: Photo of the five panelists. Sam Drummond, Juanita Miller, Shona Brown, Renay Barker-Mulholland and Bree Wright. They are all smiling. Renay and Bree are clapping. |
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Image Description: Guests of the forum lineup for a buffet of food served by venue staff. |
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Image Description: Photo of panelist Renay Barker-Mulholland speaking into the microphone. The Aboriginal, Australian and Torres Strait Islander flags behind her. Other panelists Shona Brown and Juanita Miller look on.
Photo credit is: Penny Ryan at T&T Photo Agency.
Instagram: @pennyryanphotography /@ttphotoagency |
Spotted: Our new Anti-Ableism Resource
Copies of our new anti-ableism pocket resource, ‘So you’ve been ableist, now what? A community pocket guide to accountability and repair’, are making their way around the State. Have you spotted a copy near you? If not, but you’d like to – let us know! Email Brigitte.Stone@wdv.org.au for more information. Find accessible versions including: Easy Read, Large Print and Screen Reader Friendly copies online https://wdv.org.au/resources/anti-ableism-pocket-guide-2026/ |
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Image Description: Photo of four copies of the resource fanned out on a wooden table with empty glasses in the background.
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A WDV Favourite Returns for Pride Month
A couple of years ago the Youth Experts hosted an event called Pride in Conversations - exploring intersections of age, disability and queer identities.
A Youth Expert member at the time, Mon Ince, used their amazing talents to create artwork and a poem for the event. ‘We Are Art’ postcards have been reprinted and are available from WDV’s Bourke Street office. |
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Image Description: A watercolour drawing of a person with brightly coloured hair and ear piercings. Their arm is held over their head while the other holds up a black walking stick. Handwritten in capitals is the title “We are art”. The WDV Youth logo is also in the top corner.
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Enabling Women leadership Program
A huge CONGRATULATIONS to the latest Graduates of the Enabling Women Leadership Program!
On Wednesday 17th June, friends, family, and WDV staff gathered with Graduates of the Autumn 2026 Enabling Women Leadership Program.
The event was held at the Queen Victoria Women's Centre, with which WDV has a strong spiritual connection.
During the celebration Graduates had the opportunity to reflect on their experiences of the Program. Guests were witness to speeches, singing, presentations, and traditional Samoan dancing. |
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Image description: The Enabling Women group and WDV team smiling at the camera.
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Image description: A stylised icon against a transparent background. A part of the new WDV branding, a slowly opening light purple door is being depicted, with orange shading coming from the inside. This icon represents Opportunities. |
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Gippsland Cervical Cancer Screening Education Session
Join us for a FREE cervical cancer screening education session for women and gender diverse people with disabilities, run by Women with Disabilities Victoria, in partnership with Gippsland Women's Health and Gippsland Disability Advocacy Inc.
Date: Thursday 9th July 2026
Time: 11:00am – 1:00pm
Location: TAFE Gippsland – Warragul Campus.
What to expect:
- Learn how screening protects you
- Tips for a comfortable and stress-free experience
- Chat with a sexual health nurse
- Free self-care pack & resources
- Enjoy lunch & connect with others
Registrations are essential to help us plan for dietary and accessibility requirements.
Register via: https://wwdv.wildapricot.org/event-6720806
This project is funded by Cancer Council Victoria. |
Gender & Disability Experts by Experience Advocates Available for Consultation and Training
Women with Disabilities Victoria’s Gender & Disability Experts by Experience Advocates are a group of women and gender diverse people with different experiences of disability.
They are available for consultations to support the development of gender and disability inclusive policies, products, and services.
They also offer one-hour introductory training that covers aspects of gender equality, disability inclusion and prevention of violence against women and gender diverse people with disabilities.
Consultations:
Consultations take place monthly via Zoom, on Thursdays between 11am and 2pm. You will be supported throughout the process, enabling you to get the most from your consultation time.
Consultation fees:
1 consultation session (60-minute session) = $880
2 consultation sessions (120-minute session) = $1,660
Please note that if booking 2 consultations, both consultations do not need to be conducted on the same day. Session length can be negotiated.
Training:
Our Introduction to Preventing Gender and Disability Based Violence is grounded in research, evidence and the lived experience of women and gender diverse people with disabilities.
1-hour sessions can be held online or in person and content may be adjusted to meet your group’s training needs.
Training cost: $600
Please note: The cost may vary if there are requirements in addition to our standard sessions.
How to book:
Contact the Gender and Disability Workforce Development Team at gandd@wdv.org.au for further information or to book a session.
Generally, a minimum of 8-weeks' notice is required. |
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Image description: A stylised icon against a transparent background. A part of the new WDV branding, this silhouette shows two people slightly overlapping, one a light shade of purple and one orange. The 'V' from the WDV logo is positioned on the right side of the orange person's sternum, like a heart. This icon represents Members, and is shown above the relevant updates for WDV Members. |
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Are You a WDV Member? WDV members get access to: - Our exclusive events, consultations and workshops
- Get involved in our programs
- Opportunities to network in the community
Members can also contribute to WDV by representing women and gender diverse people with disabilities on Boards, Committees and forums. These opportunities are circulated to members who have an interest in a particular field, and there is also an opportunity to contribute to government submissions and representations to government.
If you identify as a woman or gender diverse person with a disability or chronic health condition and you would like to get involved, it only takes a minute to apply for our free membership by clicking the button below:
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If you are not sure if you are a member or not and would like to find out, or have any questions about membership, please contact us via email at membership@wdv.org.au.
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Online Victorian Leadership Hub
Wednesday July 1 at 6.30pm - Pleasure and Consent
WDV’s own Mel Jolley joins the Online Hub team for a conversation about pleasure and healthy relationships.
Following on from our presentation from Sexual Health Victoria, that had a heavy focus on consent, this session will explore pleasure, communication, boundaries and sexual wellbeing. |
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Image Description: Photo of Mel Jolley. She has long auburn hair and is wearing a black long sleeve top.
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Wednesday July 15 at 6 .30pm - Connection and Chat Social Session
Mid July is the perfect time to stop by the Online Hub for a relaxed social session. Chat about something important, fun or crafty. This will be an opportunity for all hub members to meet others and share interests together. It will also provide a space to share with the Online Hub team what you would like to see covered at hub meetings in the future. |
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Image Description: Photo of a log fireplace, in front is a chair with a blanket. On the blanket a laptop open with the WDV pick logo on it. |
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Melbourne Outer East Hub
It has been a busy start to the year for the Outer East Leadership Hub. The group have been participating in the lead up to local community art event, Immerse. Guests are invited to experience art in unexpected places across Knox from 26 June to 26 July. Featuring interactive exhibitions, performances, projections and other creative surprises for all ages.
This unique event breaks away from the traditional art gallery setting and encourages our community to experience creativity in everyday spaces.
View the full program: www.knox.vic.gov.au/immerse |
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Image Description: Event poster featuring a photo of two stylised sculptures in a tree. Event information reads; “Immerse. Art in unexpected places. 26 June 0 26 July 2026. Free Event.” Image by Clara Chan. |
The Hub members also took part in a focus group helping to evaluate the work of the Hubs and WDV’s community inclusion work. But that wasn’t all Hub Liaison Officer Libby had planned for hub members this month. After a heavy few weeks for our community, Libby knew some catharsis was needed. A chance to blow off some steam and get some of that frustration out. Cue the pinata!
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Image Description: HLO Libby holds a long stick in the air, while Melbourne Outer East hub and WDV staff member, Bella Fantasia swings a bat the pinata. They are both smiling. |
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COMMUNITY NEWS AND EVENTS |
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Content Creators Wanted
The ABC is looking for storytellers with disabilities to create content for the International Day of People with Disability in December. They will be commissioning pieces from people with lived experience of disability, covering their own stories, and other stories that often go untold. This is a paid opportunity, open to Australian content creators aged 18 and over. For more information and to pitch a story, visit the ABC website. |
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Important Disclaimer
With the rise of online scamming and fraudulent emails, it is becoming increasingly important to be wary of suspicious emails. We would like to remind you that WDV will not ask for financial donations via email.
In certain cases, scammers can send emails or text messages coming from a different email. For instance, a spam email which appears to be from Nadia asking for donations via email. Due to the fraudulent nature of scammers posing as someone else online, please note it is best to never give away any personal or financial information unless you have had a verbal conversation with one of our staff members.
If you receive these types of emails, please delete these from your inbox and do not click on any of the links.
If you have any questions, please contact wdv@wdv.org.au. |
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Are Your Contact Details Current?
If you have recently changed any of your contact details; address, phone number or email address, please let us know. Email wdv@wdv.org.au and we will update our records.
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Do You Have News, Comments, Questions or Feedback For Us? We love to hear from the WDV community. If you have something you think should be included in this newsletter, please contact WDV at wdv@wdv.org.au. |
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Copyright 2026 Women with Disabilities Victoria
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