University of Newcastle Students Take Up the Tools to Support Women in Need

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A vital outreach arm of the University of Newcastle has delivered a small but welcome project for women's refuge Carrie's Place as part of International Women's Day.

Over five weeks, women from the community and female students from the School of Architecture and Built Environment worked with the team from Outfit to build two custom-designed dining tables.

The timber used for the project was donated from a former display at Sydney's Powerhouse Museum.

Third-year student Kinga, says learning to use large workshop power tools was a bit daunting at first, but well worth it.

"I think it's very important in the field of built environment that we support women because it's a very male-dominated industry," she said.

"It's just great to be a part of something bigger than yourself." 

Head of School Professor Sue Anne Ware, says the group is also undergoing a number of other projects to support the service into the future.

 

Third-year student Kinga in front of a photo of her and a community volunteer working on a table top.

 

 

Public forum exploring generational changes to women's health

BY SIOBHAN HARVEY 

Newcastle Institute are holding their first public forum of the year this Wednesday on Generational Changes in Women's Health. 

University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles will share the insights into healthy ageing that she has found from conducting the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's health. 

The study started over 25 years ago and has involved surveying over 57 thousand women from all over Australia. 

During the study Professor Byles noticed that mental health generally tends to improve as women age however, it is clear that COVID - 19 has taken its toll on younger women. 

"Women now are more distressed than women the same age 25 years ago," she said.

"When COVID came along we found through surveying women every two weeks during 2020 and some of 2021, that the younger the women were the more they were distressed and the more they were distressed in relation to COVID." 

Professor Byles said over the past 25 years women across four generations have provided a wealth of data on their lives, their health, and their health care use. 

From her research there has been many interesting and useful findings, some hopeful and some concerning. 

"I've been really lucky because I've concentrated on ageing, and the things that surprise me there have been less concerning and more positive and hopeful about women's adaptability and their ability to reinvent themselves," she said. 

During the forum she will talk about the circumstances younger generations are facing and whether or not health care systems are up to par with women's health. 

"The other thing that I think is very important is looking at our health systems and our society and thinking whether or not we have the right shaped society for who we are as people and what our life course looks like." 

The forum will be held at Newcastle United Sports Club from 6pm to 7.30pm, the event is free and there is no need to book. 

University of Newcastle academic Professor Julie Byles AO 

Hunter Local Woman of the Year Recipients Announced

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A dedicated Maitland volunteer and a Maryville midwife have been recognised in the region's Local Woman of the Year Awards.

The annual awards recognise the support women give to local communities across NSW. 

The Maitland Local Woman of the Year Award was awarded to Barbara Heckman, for her involvement in a number of community groups, including the East Maitland Girl Guide Support Committee, Maitland Meals on Wheels, the Country Women’s Association Maitland Branch, and Maitland’s Slow Food Markets.

Barbara has also catered for Tocal Field Days and the annual Maitland Show. 

Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison congratulated Barbara on the honour, and said volunteers like her are the backbone of the local community. 

"One of the things that really heartened me on Saturday night was that there were actually ten nominees for this position. There were people there who had made an outstanding contribution in their work, people like Barbara who had made an outstanding contribution in their community, and other people who had just made an extraordinary contribution given a situation of disadvantage in their own personal life," she said. 

The Local Woman of the Year Award for Newcastle was given to Oceane Campbell.

Ms Campbell worked as a midwife on the frontline of the pandemic, often supporting COVID-positive women through childbirth. 

She has also been influential in improving maternity care for LGBTQI+ people in the Hunter region, educating and training health care workers on how to ensure safe access for all people.

"I've done some research and worked hard to educate people on why it matters to give the same care, the same dignity and respect, to anybody accessing maternity care, no matter their family structure or background," Ms Campbell said. 

Ms Campbell is also a strong advocate for removing the stigma around mental health, and recently shared her own experience with trauma and mental heath issues, in her double memoire The Silence Between Us.

Ms Campbell said she was shocked and grateful to be recognised in this year's Local Women of the Year Awards, and feels honoured to be an inspiration to other women in the community. 

"We matter, our voices matter, and we're worth listening to," she said. 

Oceane Campbell (holding the award), with friends and family.