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About Us

Women’s Health East is a regional women’s health promotion agency working across the Eastern Metropolitan Region of Melbourne. The region covers 7 Local Government Areas – Yarra Ranges, Knox, Maroondah, Manningham, Monash, Whitehorse and Boroondara.

Women’s Health East drives action to build an equitable society. Guided by evidence and informed by women’s lived experiences, we strengthen the capacity of the community to improve women’s health and wellbeing.

Women’s Health East is one of 12 women’s health services across Victoria. This includes nine regional services (including Women’s Health East) which together cover the entire state.

Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) is the Victorian peak body for gender equity, women’s health and the prevention of violence against women. The statewide services are Women’s Health Victoria, Women with Disabilities Victoria and the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health.

Women’s Health East is a registered charity and donations of $2 and over are fully tax deductible.

What We Do

Working within a feminist framework, Women’s Health East address the social, cultural, economic, political and environmental factors impacting on the health, safety and wellbeing of women in the region. We build the capacity of organisations, services and programs in the region to optimally address issues affecting women.

To achieve this, we partner with state and local governments, health and community organisations, and others with a role in improving health outcomes for women.

With a focus on our region we:

  • Provide leadership, expertise and support to initiatives addressing our key priorities;
  • Facilitate collaborative, integrated responses to our key priorities;
  • Implement and support an intersectional approach to women’s health promotion;
  • Enhance the capacity of our partners to improve service system access and responsiveness for all women;
  • Shape responses to women’s health and wellbeing needs through the translation of evidence into practice, advocacy, consultancy and research;
  • Influence public policy and the public discourse on issues relevant to improving health outcomes for women; and
  • Deliver training and education programs, opportunities for collective learning, resources and support to build workforce and organisational excellence in women’s health and wellbeing.

Our Strategy 2021-2025

Vision

Equality, empowerment, health and wellbeing for all women.

Purpose

Women’s Health East drives action to build an equitable society. Guided by evidence and informed by women’s lived experiences, we strengthen the capacity of the community to improve women’s health and wellbeing.

Priorities

1.   Advance gender equality

2.   Prevent violence against women

3.   Improve women’s sexual and reproductive health

Values

Women’s Health East is commited to:

·      Human Rights

·      Social Justice

·      Diversity & Inclusion

·      Partnership & Collaboration

·      Innovation

·      Respect

Our Staff

Elly Taylor (she/her)

Elly Taylor (she/her)

CEO ( Currently on Parental Leave)
Fiona Sharkie

Fiona Sharkie

Acting CEO
Catherine D’Arcy (she/her)

Catherine D’Arcy (she/her)

Manager Prevention of Violence Against Women
Anna Phyland (she/her)

Anna Phyland (she/her)

Manager Strategy and Programs
Melissa O’Reilly (she/her)

Melissa O’Reilly (she/her)

Manager Gender Equality
Colleen Russell (she/her)

Colleen Russell (she/her)

Quality / Project Officer
Melanie Chapman

Melanie Chapman

Manager, Finance & Business Operations
Emily Raymond

Emily Raymond

Administration Officer
Emily Kate Cowan (she/her)

Emily Kate Cowan (she/her)

Executive Assistant
Claire Butselaar (she/her)

Claire Butselaar (she/her)

Team Leader Community Engagement
Sarah Fowler (she/her)

Sarah Fowler (she/her)

Gender Equality Advisor – Training for Respect
Katie McKee (she/her)

Katie McKee (she/her)

Training Coordinator
Kochava Lilit (zey/zir, they/them)

Kochava Lilit (zey/zir, they/them)

Heath Promotion Coordinator: Get the Go Ahead
Naomi King Bol (she/her)

Naomi King Bol (she/her)

Bicultural Worker (Hakha Chin & English)
Vanessa Czerniawski (she/her)

Vanessa Czerniawski (she/her)

Health Promotion Coordinator
Roshika Kumar (she/her)

Roshika Kumar (she/her)

Heath Promotion Coordinator PVAW
Avega Bishop (she/her)

Avega Bishop (she/her)

Health Promotion Coordinator – Prevention of Violence Against Women
Esther Xu (she/her)

Esther Xu (she/her)

Bicultural Worker (Mandarin & English)
Lingzhi Ruan (she/her)

Lingzhi Ruan (she/her)

Bicultural Worker (Mandarin & English)
Jane Brierty (she/her)

Jane Brierty (she/her)

Bicultural Worker (Mandarin & English)
Sui Cin Zah (she/her)

Sui Cin Zah (she/her)

Bicultural Worker (Hakha Chin & English)
Katherine Hampton

Katherine Hampton

Training Coordinator (sessional)
Kelly Finch (she/her)

Kelly Finch (she/her)

Training Coordinator (sessional)
Aimy Skym

Aimy Skym

Training Coordinator (sessional)

Our Board

Lisa Dunlop

Lisa Dunlop

Chair
Ann Yeomanson

Ann Yeomanson

Deputy Chair
Corinne Bowen

Corinne Bowen

Secretary
Leanna Marinucci

Leanna Marinucci

Treasurer
Stephanie Kilpatrick

Stephanie Kilpatrick

Dilnaz Billimoria

Dilnaz Billimoria

Sally Vuong

Sally Vuong

Belinda Li-Veldhuizen

Belinda Li-Veldhuizen

Joanne Cleary

Joanne Cleary

Work With Us

Women’s Health East is a pro-choice feminist organisation with a strong culture and a professional and dedicated staff. Employees enjoy a range of benefits that include hybrid working arrangements, special leave, training and professional development, and access to an Employee Assistance Program. Staff can salary package a tax-free component of up to $15,899 of their gross salary per year and salary package a meal entertainment and holiday accommodation benefit.

Benefits of working with Women’s Health East

  • Salary packaging
  • Flexible work arrangements
  • Gifted end of year close down leave (3days)
  • Supportive and friendly working environment
  • Opportunities and support for professional development
  • Healthy Work policy
  • Well-appointed office, located in a Heritage building with surrounding parklands
  • Free car parking.

Women’s Health East is committed to strengthening partnerships and relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and their communities, and acknowledges the unique knowledge, expertise and skills of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff. Women’s Health East is committed to ensuring the unique rights of First Nations peoples are acknowledged, respected, and upheld through our commitment to reconciliation as we strive for fairness, justice, and equity for all. Our Reconciliation Action Plan is available here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disability, women from culturally diverse backgrounds, and LGBTIQ women including trans and gender diverse people who identify as women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Women’s Health East has an exemption under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ only people who identify as women – EO exemption H294/2022.

Current Positions

Bicultural Workers (Hakha Chin)

Women’s Health East is recruiting a Bicultural Worker to work with migrant and refugee women who speak Hakha Chin.

The Bicultural Worker delivers effective, evidence-based in-language health education and health promotion programs to migrant and refugee women who speak Hakha Chin to promote their mental health and wellbeing, sexual and reproductive health, and to prevent violence against women. This position works with Hakha Chin-speaking women to facilitate community-capacity building and enables opportunities for women’s engagement, participation and co-design of health promotion programs.

The Bicultural Worker develops and maintains positive relationships with women, their communities, and organisations who work to advance the health, safety and wellbeing of migrant and refugee women who speak Hakha Chin. Under the direction of the Team Leader Community Engagement, this position works as part of a team to advance the health, safety and wellbeing of migrant and refugee women.

Position Description: Bicultural worker Hakha Chin 0.6 Parental Leave

For further information about the position, please contact Sarah Chong at schong@whe.org.au

Applications including a current CV and a cover letter responding to the key selection criteria in the position description are to be submitted via Ethical Jobs by 5pm on Friday 22/11/2025

If you are excited about this role, but your experience doesn’t perfectly match the criteria we encourage you to submit your application. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, women with disability, women from culturally diverse backgrounds, and LGBTIQ women including trans and gender diverse people who identify as women are strongly encouraged to apply.

Please note that applications will be reviewed as they are received, and this advertisement may close earlier than the stated deadline if a suitable candidate is found. We encourage interested applicants to apply promptly.

Women’s Health East has an exemption under the Equal Opportunity Act to employ only people who identify as women – EO exemption H294/2022.