Central West Women’s Health Centre (CWWHC) is marking 40 years of supporting women, children and families across the Central West with a month of community events this October, culminating on the Centre’s actual anniversary date of 29 October.

Founded in 1986, CWWHC has grown into the region’s dedicated women’s health and wellbeing service, providing trauma-informed, low-cost and no-cost care to women and young people across Bathurst and the surrounding region. Last financial year alone, the Centre supported 600 clients across more than 4,100 occasions of service, including specialist domestic, family and sexual violence support and trauma counselling for children — with more than 62 per cent of the women who came through the Centre’s doors experiencing financial hardship.

“40 years of empowering women. Let’s celebrate and keep going,” said Karen Boyde, Executive Director of CWWHC.

“Forty years ago, a group of local women saw a need in this community and did something about it. Four decades on, we’re still here, and we’re still needed. This October is about thanking everyone who’s kept the doors open, our founders, our staff, our volunteers, and the businesses and community groups who’ve backed us along the way, and making sure the women of the Central West know we’ll be here for the next forty years too.”

A month of celebration, October 2026

CWWHC will host a series of events throughout October, each raising funds to sustain the Centre’s services into its next decade:

• Woman26 Charity Performance — Parcan Productions’ Woman26 will run at the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre on 17 October 2026, with proceeds supporting CWWHC.
• Women’s Health Centre Open Day — Tuesday 27 October, at the Centre in Kelso. Doors open to the community for the day, with health services, memorabilia from CWWHC’s 40- year history, and activities for anyone who has ever had a connection with the Centre.
• 40th Anniversary Dinner — Thursday 29 October, 6pm, marking the Centre’s actual anniversary date. A ticketed dinner at Boxgrove Country Retreat, with guest speaker Jennifer Robinson, an Australian human rights lawyer at Doughty Street Chambers in London and co- author of How Many More Women, which has been made into the documentary film, Silenced. Robinson is best known for her work as counsel to Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, Amber Heard and for taking climate change, the world’s biggest problem, to the International Court of Justice, the world’s highest court. Tickets are on sale now – HERE.
• 40 for 40 Challenge, in association with Rotary Club of Bathurst — Running 1 October to 1 November, community members, businesses and local organisations are invited to pick their own 40: 40 minutes, 40 reps, 40 laps, or any personal challenge that means something to them, completed any time throughout October, while raising funds to keep the Centre’s services accessible. Individuals and organisations can register and set a fundraising goal at cwwhc-40-for-40.raiselysite.com. The month culminates in a Final Celebration on Sunday 1 November at Peace Park, Bathurst, with a community river lap and a free BBQ, proudly supported by Rotary Club of Bathurst. Sign up HERE!

Read the full Media Release from CWWHC below.