The Central Coast’s largest women-focused charity and longest-serving provider of physical and mental healthcare services for women across the region, Central Coast Community Women’s Health Centre (CCCWHC) turns 50 this year and is calling on the community to get involved in its critical work.
Established in 1976, the Centre’s mission is to provide safe and healthy futures for women in our community and focuses on breaking cycles of violence, intergenerational trauma, and social disadvantage.
In 24/25, CCCWHC helped close to 5,000 women and their children on 11,779 occasions across the Coast through its women’s health GP and community nurse clinics, counselling and casework, and therapeutic and social groups.
Chair, Janet Attwood, says over the past 12 months the Centre has seen more than a 65% increase in the number of women and children we support, speaking to the growing need for these services across our region.
“It’s no secret that the Central Coast has one of the highest rates of domestic, family, and sexual violence in NSW, and these are primary presenting issues for women accessing our service,” says Janet.
“While our 50th anniversary gives us the opportunity to reflect on everything that has been achieved by so many extraordinary women over the past five decades, we also see this milestone as an opportunity to advocate for greater support to remove the barriers to equitable healthcare and support services that exist for many women.
“We’re calling on our entire community to get involved in a variety of ways over our 50th year to support our work and help improve the quality of life for women in our community.”
Recognised as the region’s most Outstanding Community Organisation at the 2025 Business NSW Central Coast Awards, CCCWHC partnered with Pacific Link Housing to successfully attract a $20 million-dollar bi-partisan federal government commitment for a Women and Children’s Trauma Recovery Centre on the Coast and has recently been named one of 11 locations in Australia to receive targeted funding for women who have traditionally faced healthcare barriers to access Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinic (EPPC) services and support.
CEO Sara Foster, says while CCCWHC may have grown considerably over the past five decades, it hasn’t lost its purpose of women supporting women to live healthier, safer lives.
“When the Centre was first founded in 1976, women’s health and issues such as domestic, family and sexual violence were still taboo and considered ‘secret women’s business,’” says Sara.
“We have come a long way, but we still have so far to go in eradicating violence and trauma from the lives of women and children.
“Domestic violence is a crisis that affects not only the women and children who endure it but ripples through families, friends, and our broader society. These women are our friends, neighbours, sisters, aunts, mothers, and daughters — they are a part of our community, and they all deserve a safe and healthy future.
“This is not something we can achieve alone. It takes widespread collaboration, cohesion and contributions from all sectors of government, businesses and community, to achieve this goal and create real and lasting change.”
Get Involved
A range of events and initiatives are planned to celebrate the Centre’s 50th anniversary including:
- 50 years International Women’s Day celebration
- 50 years Gala Dinner & Awards Event
- 50 years of women supporting women: past and future artistic and historical exhibition
- 50 years of Women’s Health & Advocacy celebration
There are many ways community members, organisations and businesses can be involved:
To find out more get in touch at hello@ccwh.org.au