Vulnerable women in district's north 'desperately need funding help'

Increasing demand for women’s health services is stretching support services to the limit, and those in greatest need, especially in the region’s north, are falling between the cracks.

Addressing these gaps should be among the highest funding priorities for this region when the NSW government delivers its next budget next month, says Jess Davidson, general manager of the Illawarra Women’s Health Centre.

Jess has identified Wollongong’s northern suburbs as being in greatest need. At present, the only dedicated specialist and holistic health support services for women are in Warilla.

“That can be a three-hour bus journey, with multiple bus changes for women travelling from the north," Jess said.

“That’s simply not good enough, especially with the increased demands for services and crisis support at a centre already struggling to meet the needs of women across the entire region."

Jess says statistics don’t lie. The scourge of domestic and family violence is on the increase across all parts of the region, and support services aren’t keeping up with demand.

“Demand for counselling, domestic and family violence support, and sexual reproductive health services, has more than doubled in the past three years, with wait lists stretching up to 12 months, and referrals periodically closed due to overwhelming demand.”

Northern Illawarra is home to more than 113,000 women, with population growth projected to increase by 35 per cent in coming years. At the same time, domestic and family violence rates in part of the region remain 50 per cent higher than the NSW average.

“As demand continues to grow, access to these services is becoming increasingly stretched, particularly in northern Illawarra, where there is currently no permanent women’s health centre.”

Jess said addressing these gaps must be part of any serious response to the domestic family violence crisis.

Lengthy waits for support

“We need to ensure we put the right infrastructure in place now. Women in the north of the Illawarra are missing out on accessible, local support. For many, distance, cost and availability are real barriers to getting help.

“That’s why we‘re calling for urgent funding to establish a permanent women's health service in the northern Illawarra.”

Jess said she hoped the NSW government would identify a site in the area from Fairy Meadow to Corrimal to build a new centre.

”This is about making sure women can get the support they need early, before situations escalate, and having funding to provide immediate support when and where women need it most. We already have the model and the expertise. What’s needed now is the funding to deliver it where it’s needed most."

Jess said a new northern women’s health centre would also take pressure off the ”overstretched” Warilla centre. She said it wasn’t right that in 2026, women faced year-long waits for vital health support.

“This isn’t a pilot or untested idea,” Jess said. “Community-based women’s health services have proven they deliver better outcomes while reducing long-term costs for the health system. Investing now means fewer women reaching crisis point and healthier communities across the Illawarra.”

In its pre-budget submission, the centre argues that establishing a permanent northern Illawarra service would reduce hospital demand, improve mental health and safety outcomes, and ensure women right across the region can access culturally safe, trauma-informed care when they need it most.