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Experts in Our Health
The Experts in Our Health project aims to build the knowledge, skills and confidence of Victorian women with disabilities to exercise their right to accessible health information and services, and to inform the delivery of health services in their communities.
The project has employed 12 women with disabilities from across Victoria to form the Experts by Experience Empowerment Team (EBE). The Experts have applied their lived experience to co-design and promote accessible health resources to women with disabilities through workshops across Victoria. As well as build the capacity of service providers to be more inclusive and accessible for women with disabilities.
The project also focuses on leadership and developing the capacity and skills of the Experts in Our Health team to seek paid and voluntary leadership positions such as staff roles or board and committee appointments in the health sector.
Our Key Messages
- Acknowledging the strength and insight of women with disabilities. Women with disabilities have faced barriers to good health and have spoken up for their right to equal and accessible health services.
- Lived experience Experts demonstrate how women with disabilities can advocate for better and more inclusive health services.
- As women with disabilities, we are aware of our rights and will use them to break down barriers that prevent us accessing healthcare on an equal basis with all members of the community. We are experts in our health and wellbeing, and we can make change.
- WDV promotes inclusive co-design in practice. We demonstrate best practice in co-design and how to do co-design really well in healthcare settings.
Our Training Options
For Women with Disabilities:
Women with disabilities experience many barriers to accessing the healthcare they need. The Experts in Our Health Workshop is for women, trans, gender diverse and non-binary folk with disabilities. The workshop is about health rights, speaking up, finding what we need and sharing our ideas for making services accessible.
For Healthcare Workforces:
Women with disabilities experience multiple barriers to accessing health services. The Experts in Our Health training supports organisations to improve accessibility and implement inclusive co-design of services and programs.
Training participants will learn about barriers and engage in a facilitated discussion about practices that uphold rights and support access.
Resources
As part of this project, Women with Disabilities Victoria have co-designed a series of resources with the Experts, these resources demonstrate best practice in co-design.
The Experts have applied their lived experience to the development and promotion of these accessible health resources to be utilised by women with disabilities across Victoria. As well as build the capacity of service providers to be more inclusive and accessible for women with disabilities.
For Women with Disabilities these resources can be used as an advocacy tool for themselves and other women with disabilities to access appropriate and safe healthcare. The resources focus on gender and disability-sensitive health empowerment, control of personal healthcare, and access to services.
For Healthcare Workforces these resources demonstrate how best to engage with and support women in lived experience roles within healthcare settings who often feel powerless or devalued. They will also highlight what staff can do in making their healthcare services sincerely responsive, inclusive and welcoming to women with disabilities.
These resources have been produced in a variety of accessible formats to extend their reach as well as demonstrate best practice.
Factsheets
These fact sheets are designed for everyone working in the healthcare sector. As accessibility is everyone’s business, this set of factsheets is created to inform all healthcare staff, including administrative staff, clinical and allied health professionals.
The fact sheets are designed to increase awareness of challenges faced by women with disabilities receiving healthcare, and support healthcare staff to understand their roles and responsibilities in creating an accessible, safe, and welcoming healthcare environment for all.
Factsheet 1: Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – Word Doc
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – PDF
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – Easy English
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – Plain Language PDF
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – Audio mp3
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – BRF Grade 1
Creating Accessible and Safe Healthcare Settings for Women with Disabilities – BRF Grade 2
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected]
Factsheet 2: Your Role in Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – Word Doc
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – PDF
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – Easy English
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – Plain Language Word Doc
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – Plain Language PDF
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – Audio mp3
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – BRF Grade 1
Upholding the Rights of Women with Disabilities – BFR Grade 2
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected]
Factsheet 3: Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – Word Doc
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – PDF
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – Easy English
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – Plain Language Word Doc
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – Plain Language PDF
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – Audio mp3
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – BRF Grade 1
Take an Active Approach to Understanding Gender, Health and Disability – BRF Grade 2
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected].
Factsheet 4: Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service – Word Doc
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service – PDF
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service – Easy English
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service – Audio mp3
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service- BRF Grade 1
Your Roles and Responsibilities in Providing an Accessible and Inclusive Service – BRF Grade 2
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected]
Factsheet 5: Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Setting
This fact sheet is designed for women with disabilities working in any role within healthcare services, including service provision, administration, management, governance and other paid or voluntary roles.
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – Word Doc
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – PDF
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – Easy English
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – Plain Language Word Doc
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – Plain Language PDF
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – Audio mp3
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – BRF Grade 1
Women with Disabilities Working in Healthcare Settings – BRF Grade 2
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected]
Posters, Postcards and Media Tiles
We Are Experts in Our Health
Poster: This informative poster highlights key actions for healthcare services to embed into their practice to demonstrate their commitment to providing equal, accessible and inclusive health services to women with disabilities.
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Plain Language A4 Word Doc
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Plain Language A3 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Plain Language A2 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Audio mp3
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – BRF Grade 1
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – BRF Grade 2
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Arabic A3 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Arabic A2 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Simplified Chinese A3 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Simplified Chinese A2 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Traditional Chinese A3 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Traditional Chinese A2 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Vietnamese A3 PDF
We Are Experts in Our Health poster – Vietnamese A2 PDF
Braille Hardcopy Grade 1
Braille Hardcopy Grade 2
If you would like to receive any of the Braille Hardcopy resources, please contact WDV to request them, at [email protected]
Inclusive Co-Design in Practice
Poster: This informative poster demonstrates the seven ways Women with Disabilities Victoria promotes accessible and inclusive co-design of resources, services and programs.
Inclusive Co-Design in Practice poster – Standard A4 Word Doc
Inclusive Co-Design in Practice poster – Standard A3 Word Doc
Postcards:
Inclusive Co-Design in Practice – postcards
Media Tiles:
Creating Safe and Accessible Co-Design – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 1 in a series of 7 tiles, it features two women pictured under the value statement ‘Creating Safe and Accessible Co-Design’. One of the women is sitting to the left on a stool facing to the right, she is wearing a shirt and pants and has short hair. The woman has her legs crossed and looks like she is speaking to the other woman who is facing her. The other woman is sitting in a wheelchair. The woman is wearing a top and pants and has shoulder-length hair. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Empowering Each Other in Co-Design Teams – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 2 in a series of 7 tiles, it features three women standing centred under the value statement ‘Empowering each other in co-design teams’. The first woman is wearing a jacket with a skirt and has shoulder-length hair. The woman looks like she is talking to the other two women. The next woman looks young, she is wearing a dress with a vest and has shoulder-length hair. The woman is holding a clipboard in front of her with both her arms. The third woman has shoulder-length hair and is wearing a shirt and pants. The woman is wearing dark glasses to indicate she has a vision impairment, she is holding the lead of a guide dog who is in a harness, and the guide dog is standing in front of her. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Supporting Participation Through Valuing Diversity – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 3 in a series of 7 tiles, it features three women standing centred under the value statement ‘Supporting participation through valuing diversity’. The first woman is wearing pants and a shirt and has short hair. The woman is holding a phone with both hands. The next woman has grey hair pulled back, she is wearing round dark glasses and a top and black skirt. The last woman is wearing a head scarf, a long-sleeved top and a long skirt. The woman has her left arm crossed in front of her. The woman’s left arm is a prosthetic limb. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Developing Relationships Based on Authenticity, Empathy and Trust – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 4 in a series of 7 tiles, it features two women standing centred under the value statement ‘Developing relationships based on authenticity, empathy and trust’, there is a young girl standing in between the two women. The first woman is holding Progress Pride flag. The woman is wearing a top and pants and has short hair. There is a young girl in the middle, she is wearing a long sleeve shirt and pants. The young girl has shoulder-length hair with a ribbon and bow tied in it. The young girl is holding onto the right leg of a woman on her right. The woman is standing and facing the front and smiling. The woman is holding a young baby close to her chest with her left arm, it appears she is an amputee as her right arm is missing. She is wearing pants and a top and has long hair. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Building Capacity Through Continuous Learning – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 5 in a series of 7 tiles, it features two women standing centred under the value statement ‘Building capacity through continuous learning’. One of the women is a medical professional, wearing hospital scrubs, has long hair tied back and is looking at an xray she is holding in her left hand in discussion with the other woman. The other woman who is wearing a shirt with a jacket and pants and has short hair. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Improving Through Continuous Feedback – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 6 in a series of 7 tiles, it features two women, both centred under the value statement ‘Improving through continuous feedback’. There is a woman on the left sitting in a wheelchair. The woman is wearing a top and pants and has shoulder-length hair. The woman is facing to the right and looks like she is speaking to the other woman. The other woman is standing and holding a walking stick in her left hand. The woman is wearing pants with a top and has shoulder-length hair. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Ongoing Monitoring and Evaluation – media tile
Image Description: This tile is number 7 in a series of 7 tiles, it features three women centred under the value statement ‘Ongoing monitoring and evaluation’. One of the women is wearing pants with a top and has short hair. The woman is sitting down on a stool and has a laptop opened on her lap, she appears to be looking at the screen and typing. The next woman is wearing a jacket over a shirt and a skirt has shoulder-length hair, is wearing lipstick, and is smiling. The woman has her arms crossed in front of her. The last woman in the image is sitting down on a chair facing the other two women to her left. The woman is wearing a skirt and top and has shoulder-length hair. The woman appears to be talking to the other two women. This image of these three women gives the impression that they are in a meeting possibly doing some evaluation. The bottom of the image has the Women with Disabilities empowering women purple logo and website link for more information.
Experts in Our Health Guide
This guide has been developed by and for women with disabilities to support informed health choices.
The Guide shows women with disabilities how they can navigate health systems and advocate for themselves and others in achieving optimal health. It is empowering to find ways to speak up and be heard.
Experts in Our Health Guide – Standard Word Doc
Experts in Our Health Guide – PDF
Experts in Our Health Guide – Plain Language Word Doc
Experts in Our Health Guide – Plain Language PDF
Experts in Our Health Guide – BRF Grade 1
Experts in Our Health Guide – BRF Grade 2
Experts in Our Health Guide – Easy English. The Easy English version has been divided into chapters:
Part 1 – Experts in Our Health Guide – Healthcare access for women with disabilities – EE PDF
Part 2 – Experts in Our Health Guide – Healthcare rights for women with disabilities – EE PDF
Part 5 – Experts in Our Health Guide – Where to go for support – EE PDF
Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3. The Audio Mp3 has been divided into chapters:
Introduction – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Table of Contents – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Forward – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Acknowledgments – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Women with Disabilities and Health – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Our Right to Health – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Advocating for Our Health – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Finding Our Way Around Health Systems – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Places to Get Help – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Glossary – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Sources – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Women with Disabilities Contact Information – Experts in Our Health Guide – Audio Mp3
Experts in Our Health Video
We Are Experts in Our Health video is an informative video resource based on the Experts in Our Health Guide. Co-designed and produced by the Experts in Our Health Project team, the video demonstrates best practice in co-design and how to practice this approach in healthcare settings.
This video features six of our twelve lived experience experts, women with disabilities sharing their experience accessing healthcare. The women talk about actions healthcare services can take to ensure their services and information are accessible, disability and gender-sensitive, inclusive and welcoming for women with disabilities.
We Are Experts in Our Health Trailer
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
We Are Experts in Our Health Full Length
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
We Are Experts in Our Health – Chapter 1: Barriers to Access
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
We Are Experts in Our Health – Chapter 2: Our Right to Health
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
We Are Experts in Our Health – Chapter 3: Advocating for Our Health
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
We Are Experts in Our Health – Chapter 4: Finding Our Way Around Health Systems
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
Chapter 5: Actions Healthcare Services Can Implement
Watch on YouTube (Audio Described with Closed Captions version)
Watch on YouTube (AUSLAN version)
Who Are We Working With On This Project?
Women with Disabilities Victoria would like to acknowledge the ongoing support from our partner organisations – Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health, Women’s Health Loddon Mallee and Women’s Health in the North, and members of the Project Advisory Group.
Who Has Funded This Project?
The Experts in Our Health project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.
Experts in Our Health Resources Survey
We are currently looking for feedback regarding our new Experts in Our Health resources. We would like to know who is using them? How they are being used? What we could do to improve them? And what you would like to see from us in future?
If you have used our resources and would like to complete the short survey, click the link WDV Experts by Experience Health Resources Survey.