Pioneering women’s mental healthcare
As our Women’s Recovery Network (Wren) celebrates its first birthday, the team behind it remains more focused than ever on increasing access to the pioneering mental health service.
When Wren opened in 2023 it was in response to recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system. The review called for the creation of a single gender mental health service.
The resulting service is a safe space that director of the Women’s Statewide Mental Health Service Dr Jennifer Babb describes as a crucial service for Victorian women.
“We know gender is a social determinant of care, and that’s why Wren matters,” Dr Babb Said.
“The network supports women with a range of complex mental health issues, including eating disorders and perinatal mental health issues. Most women admitted with mental health challenges have a history of trauma.”
“Wren is what happens when we listen and act and it’s why Wren is so much more than a women’s only unit; it delivers gender specific and trauma informed care.”
Central to Wren’s pioneering approach to women’s mental health services is the integration of a lived experience workforce at every level of care, including leadership, systems design, administration and clinical settings.
Consumer Consultant Maria Bradshaw leads a co-design working group whose members are involved in all aspects of the look and feel of Wren’s services.
“We continuously work to implement the feedback and recommendations from our co-design working groups,” Maria said.
Chief Executive Officer at Ramsay Clinic Albert Road Petra Glare said Wren received over 300 admissions in its first year.
“To have the unit being so lived in and loved, providing a safe and nurturing space for the women who are accessing care here is wonderful,” Petra said.
“We’re really proud of the care we’ve provided to hundreds of women and look forward to delivering care for even more in the year ahead.”
While visiting Wren, and meeting with clinical and lived experience staff, Victoria’s Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt described the service as “a real exemplar of for the rest of the state.”
“This is what the reform to our mental health system is all about,” Minister Stitt said.
“It’s being able to make lasting change to the services that are available, as well as building new models of care.”
