WOMEN'S INFORMATION SERVICE

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (14:38): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for the Status of Women a question about the Women's Information Service.

Leave granted.

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: I have heard the minister speak with great fondness of the Women's Information Service. Honourable members may know that the Women's Information Service has provided important information and referral services to South Australian women for a number of years. I ask the minister: how is the government assisting communities to plan for this development in terms of the Women's Information Switchboard?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (14:38): I thank the honourable member for her most timely question. I am very delighted to announce today that the Women's Information Service (WIS) is undergoing something of a transformation. As members know, for more than three decades WIS has provided access to information and knowledge to empower South Australian women to make informed decisions about all aspects of their lives. This important work will continue, but WIS staff and volunteers will now be getting out to where women actually live and be spending more time in both suburban and regional areas.

They will also be engaging with women online to bring the service more directly into their everyday lives. One of the key aspects of the changes planned for WIS is about online communication, and at the moment WIS does not have an interactive online presence, yet we know that many women use the internet as their major source of information. I am very pleased to advise that WIS is planning on becoming very active online, and it will have a presence on Facebook and other interactive forums.

We know, of course, that there are groups of women who do not use the internet; for example, particularly older women and women from culturally-diverse backgrounds prefer face-to-face information and contact. The Women's Information Service will continue to provide referrals and information at the Grenfell Street shopfront but will also have a greater presence in our communities, for example, at children's centres.

Another exciting new development for WIS is that, from early August, Wednesdays will see a new feature of the service being introduced. There will now be an ongoing series of information seminars covering topics that will have emerged as current issues for women, such as concessions for seniors, paid parental leave, multicultural youth services and such like.

A further key component of the changes at WIS are the connections being built with other service providers. Whilst the fundamental purpose of the service has not shifted over the years, these changes will ensure that the service continues to be relevant and accessible to South Australian women of all ages and lifestyles.

Partnerships with other service providers will mean that the Women's Information Service can provide an efficient gateway service, which will direct women to appropriate services and information. Through these partnerships, WIS breaks down barriers for women, including those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups or, for instance, women with disabilities, to access appropriate services to enable them to meet their needs.

Of course, knowledgeable volunteers and staff will continue to engage with women to provide information, referrals and advice both face-to-face at the shopfront and in the community, as well as via WIS phone services; and I have already talked about the online services. The Women's Information Service information line will be accessible from nine till five Monday to Friday, which is in line with the Office for Women's opening hours. I am very pleased with the excellent work that the staff and volunteers of WIS have done to date. I am confident that WIS will remain relevant and modern and, obviously, very important for South Australian women.