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The Women’s is Australia’s first and largest specialist hospital dedicated to improving the health of all women and newborns.

Our patron is Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria.

For more than160 years, we have been advocating for new approaches to women’s health, as we have always recognised the different health challenges that women face throughout their lives.

Each year, we provide in excess of 250,000 episodes of care for women from 189 countries, who speak 90 different languages and follow 69 separate religious faiths.

We are committed to a holistic philosophy of health. We provide comprehensive services ranging from health promotion to clinical expertise and leadership in maternity, gynaecology, women's cancer services and in the specialist care of newborns.

As a specialist hospital, the Women's is central to the Victorian health system, particularly with respect to advocating for women's health and leading innovation for the health and wellbeing of women and newborns. We are a major teaching hospital and internationally-recognised for our medical research.

Our vision is to set the benchmark in women’s health and to support women to manage their health, age positively and enjoy the best possible quality of life.

Strategic Plan

The Women’s Strategic Plan 2016-2020 was developed following extensive consultation with our people, partners, and with patients, stakeholders, and consumers. It outlines our priorities and areas of focus over the next five years.

Governance and Reporting

The Women's is a public health service and is incorporated pursuant to the provisions of the Health Services Act 1988 (as amended). Learn more.

The Board

The hospital's Board of Directors develops strategic objectives and ensures the hospital has measures to make certain the hospital meet its obligations to the community it serves as well as to its governing bodies. Learn more.

The Executive Team

The Women's experienced executive team is responsible for managing the operations of the Women's and meeting the strategic and operational objectives agreed with the Board. Learn more.

Community Advisory Committee

The Community Advisory Committee promotes improved outcomes for patients and the broader community through effective community participation in the hospital. Learn more.

Advocacy

Our advocacy activities aim to advance social change by working productively with governments, policy makers, leaders, funders and the broader community, and challenging social norms and attitudes that reinforce women’s poor health outcomes. Learn more.

Reports & Publications

Reports and publications of the Royal Women's Hospital including the Strategic Plan, Annual Report, Quality of Care Report. Learn more.

Our History

The Royal Women’s Hospital, Australia’s first public women’s hospital, was established in Melbourne in August 1856 and is among the oldest and most distinguished of its kind in the world today. Learn more.

Volunteer

The Women’s has a strong and very diverse volunteering program with more than 250 men and women assisting in voluntary roles. Learn more.