Responding to violence against women as a health issue -
Fiona Burgemeister is a health professional with more than 20 years’ experience as a senior public health administrator in Australia and the United Kingdom. She has had responsibility for the development and implementation of policies, guidelines and programs at the Royal Women’s Hospital in Victoria for preventing and responding to violence against women. Fiona and her family attend St Hilary’s Anglican Church in Kew.
Violence against women is often seen as a criminal justice or social issue. It is the leading cause of preventable illness and death in women aged 15 to 44 years old, and thus is also a major health issue requiring appropriate health sector responses.
This workshop will provide an overview of gender inequity in health and demonstrate the role of women’s health services in addressing these inequities, using specific examples from the Royal Women’s Hospital. The workshop will also seek to demonstrate how the health sector’s experiences can inform the development of effective measures by church organisations to respond appropriately to violence against women.
