Over the last 2 months organisations from across Australia united to take part in our 6-Week Gender-Responsive Health Challenge, a national initiative aimed at strengthening gender equity in health policies, services and practices.
The challenge created space for learning, reflection and action to advance health equity for women and gender diverse people as participants worked through the modules in our e-learning course Introduction to Gender-Responsive Health.
What the challenge involved
The challenge combined structured and peer learning with practical action. Each week, organisational representatives completed our self-paced e-learning modules on a range of themes within gender-responsive health.
Participants accessed resources from the Women’s Health Hub and engaged in weekly discussions to identify strategies to embed the principles learned into policies and practices within their workplaces and the communities they work in. A community of practice with other challengers supported participants and provided a forum for sharing learnings and action.
From national organisations, regional and local community services, to grassroots health advocates, all the participants actively engaged with the content as well as each other, sharing resources, reflections and solutions as they worked through the modules.
The Challenge has prompted us both to investigate what policies and procedures are being developed at our emerging Hub that support gender equity.
It has been brilliant to refresh and reflect on how we can make gender responsiveness a part of how we do our work. It is also very energising to connect with other organisations and learn about their work and the way they are making a difference
The most valuable lessons came through the reinforcing of knowledge regarding gender as a determinant of health. HJA’s work contributes to addressing the social determinants of health through unmet legal need, but this interacts with other characteristics, such as gender, and can affect people in different ways. This is an important reminder when we advocate for system reform, whether it’s funding or workforce policy.
Actions that make a difference
By the end of the challenge many of the organisations had already taken meaningful steps to further embed gender-responsive approaches in their work.
- Deafness Forum Australia is incorporating more intersectional gendered perspectives into policy writing and publications.
- Women’s Health Northern Rivers has incorporated key elements from the gender–responsive framework for health promotion in key documents they also updated content and language on their website to consider accessibility and address barriers.
- Micha Projects, Wellspring Women & Girls Health Hub used an intersectional lens to examine gender-responsiveness within the organisation and have revealed some areas for improvement.
- Sexual Health Advocates for Reproductive Equity (SHARE) used the challenge as an opportunity to explore ways to increase access to reproductive access for international students, refugees and migrants.
- QENDO has reframed their EndoAware Workplace Program to better show how gender-responsive health is not just a personal issue – it’s a workplace equity issue that employers have a role to play in.
- Several organisations have reviewed and updated language in workplace policies to strengthen inclusive practice.
As we move forward at Deafness Forum Australia, we’re committed to taking these insights and applying them to how we work — ensuring health equity and gender responsiveness are not just principles we support, but ones we actively embed.
The women we serve often face challenges linked to systemic inequalities, including economic disadvantage, domestic and family violence, and barriers to healthcare. Many have experienced trauma, discrimination, or social exclusion, making gender-responsive services essential in addressing their unique needs.
Through the 6-Week Challenge, we’ve deepened our understanding of gender-responsive health, strengthened our messaging, and identified clear, sustainable actions to embed equity across our programs, including QENDO Care and EndoAware.
An opportunity to showcase learning
In the final week of the challenge, participants presented their progress and learnings to a closed forum of government stakeholders. These presentations were an opportunity for participants to showcase the innovative approaches they are applying to deliver more gender-responsive health services.
Thanks to all the organisations who participated, reaffirming their commitment to building a more gender-responsive health system for all:
- Deafness Forum Australia
- Health Justice Australia
- Micah Projects, Wellspring Women & Girls Health Hub
- Women’s Health Northern Rivers (formerly Northern Rivers Women and Children’s Services Inc.)
- Sexual Health Advocates for Reproductive Equity
- QENDO
- The Women’s Centre
As a service designed for women and gender diverse individuals, it is imperative that our team and the broader organisation have a deep understanding of gender-responsive care in order to provide the best care for those accessing our services.
Looking ahead
Our 6-Week Challenge has built bridges between organisations and laid the foundations for ongoing collaboration. Participants have made new connections, shared strategies and inspired each other to keep working for health equity.
We encourage all organisations to take a look at our e-learning course Introduction to Gender-Responsive Health. The 5 modules are accessible, self-paced and available at no charge.
Benefit of Challenge: ‘Connections with and awareness of other organisations working in the women’s health sector. Feeling encouraged that there are many other organisations committed to gender-responsive health and working towards the same goals.
