Increased funding to WILMA breaks 36 year jinx

After 36 years without an increase in funding, the WILMA Women’s Health Centre has received $250,000 from the state government.

Its first funding increase since 1987 will allow the centre to continue to provide services such as trauma-informed counselling, casework, and integrated health care.

“This increase is long overdue, and we are so thankful that Labor has prioritised women’s health and safety in this budget,” Manager of WILMA Women’s Health Centre, Dr Vanessa Olsen said.

Thanks to the funding, WILMA will be able to have a trained counsellor available at their centre week-round, resulting in almost 500 more sessions of counselling per-year, supporting some of the most at-risk women in the Campbelltown and broader Macarthur community.

“The work done by WILMA with at-risk women is exceptional and I look forward to continuing to work with them into the future,” Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren said.

The increased funding will allow WILMA to take in a further 70 individuals annually. In the last 12-month period, the centre had to refer 200 women to other services due to high demand.

With the population of Campbelltown continuing to grow, and a projected 11.90% population growth in Women alone, it is essential that effective support services are in place.

“For some women, WILMA is a life-saving service and this funding will allow WILMA to continue to support those women and others like them,” Mr Warren said.