Here are all our publications listed by date order.
Every year, we make a Year in Review which shares what we have done in the year, as well as stories from women who have used the service, volunteers and health professionals.
For an overview of the work of Women’s Health Victoria and its services, including Counterpart, you can browse Annual Reports on Women’s Health Victoria’s website.
The Counterpart Year in Review 2022–2023 shares our achievements from the last year, including the successful expansion to supporting all women with cancer. Now Victorian women all have access to our peer support, events and information, no matter what type of cancer they may have.
We also share stories from women who have experienced cancer, including one of our Peer Support Volunteers, and acknowledge and thank our webinar and workshop presenters, funders, donors and other supporters.
'Counterpart’s service expansion – lessons for peer support in a small cancer support organisation?' was a poster presentation included in the 6th national Cancer Survivorship Conference, held in Adelaide in March 2023.
In July 2022 after considering the cancer landscape and following requests from both women with other cancers and clinicians, the service opened to Victorian women with all cancers. In preparation for this service expansion, the Peer Support Volunteers (PSVs) completed a bridging training program to support their work with a new cohort of service users.
This poster presentation contains the methods, outcomes and lessons learnt of the expansion of peer support by a niche cancer support service to women with all cancers in Victoria.
'Recruiting and selecting cancer Peer Support Volunteers – what does success look like?' was a poster presentation included in the 6th national Cancer Survivorship Conference, held in Adelaide in March 2023.
For nearly 20 years Counterpart, a service of Women’s Health Victoria, has recruited and selected women who have had cancer to become Peer Support Volunteers (PSVs). The model of providing peer support to women with cancer has been carefully developed, implemented and monitored to ensure safety and care for both women with cancer and PSV’s. Over 140 women across thirteen separate intakes of PSVs have undertaken comprehensive training to prepare and equip them for providing connection, support and information to other women with cancer.
Counterpart Peer Support Volunteers are integral to all aspects of Counterpart’s service delivery and continually contribute to the success and evolution of our work. Success looks like Volunteers who are engaged and give amazing commitment, care, enthusiasm and the precious gift of time to Counterpart and Victorian women with cancer.
Download: Recruiting and selecting cancer Peer Support Volunteers - PDF (6MB)
The Counterpart Year in Review 2021–2022 shares the achievements of Counterpart over the past year. In another busy year, Counterpart staff and volunteers prepared to expand the service to all women with cancer, while continuing to provide connection, support and information to women affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer.
As always, one of the highlights of the publication is women's stories. These show some of the ways women affected by cancer benefit from Counterpart's programs, highlight our partnerships with health professionals and share volunteer experiences.
Information about other Women's Health Victoria's programs and services, as well as an overview of Counterpart's work can be found in the Women's Health Victoria Annual Report.
The Counterpart Year in Review 2020–2021 shares our achievements over the past year. We have continued to connect, support and inform women affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer across Victoria. Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, we operated the Counterpart Resource Centre remotely for much of the year, with Peer Support Volunteers making calls from their own homes. We also expanded our program of online events to ensure that women could continue to access support and information, even throughout lockdowns.
We also include women's stories to show some of the ways women affected by cancer benefit from Counterpart's programs, highlight our partnerships with health professionals and share volunteer experiences.
Or read the Counterpart Year in Review 2020–2021 flipbook version in a new window.
With all that has happened this year, the Counterpart 2019 – 2020 Year in Review has a strong focus on connection. Although we have a changed world due to the pandemic, we have successfully adapted many of our services so that we can still connect, support and inform women with breast or a gynaecological cancer. To maintain an uninterrupted service, our volunteers are providing valuable peer support to women over the phone, our events are now being provided on line and staff are continuing to work from home.
We thank those who have shared their stories of Counterpart: women who use our service, our volunteers and health professionals. As you read their stories, you will see how important the sense of connection has been this year.
Creativity can bring many positive effects, from the simple pleasure of doing it through to evoking personal growth and transformation. At Counterpart, we have been providing creative sessions for over 15 years. These have included art therapy, sashiko, doll making, drumming, photography, music and creative writing.
To celebrate 15 years of our service, we invited women to share their creations at our end of year morning tea in 2018. We have compiled them into an e-publication, so we can share them with others.
Read Counterpart makes it online.
Download: Counterpart makes it – 15 years of supporting women's creativity - PDF (14MB)
The Counterpart Year in Review 2018–19 shares the achievements of the service over the past year. We have connected, supported and informed women affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer over the phone, in our Resource Centre, at hospitals through our Bridge of Support programs and through health and wellbeing events. We expanded our reach through our Rural and Regional and Area-based projects, with support from the Victorian Government, and through new telehealth facilities, with the support of LUCRF Super Community Program.
We also include women's stories to show some of the ways women affected by cancer benefit from Counterpart's programs, highlight our partnerships with health professionals and share volunteer experiences.
In 2017–18, Counterpart expanded our reach to more women affected by breast or a gynaecological cancer across Victoria. The Counterpart Year in Review 2017–18 celebrates our achievements over the last year. Highlights include stories from women who used our service, women who volunteer and health professionals. We have expanded this Year in Review to commemorate our 15th birthday, with photos and highlights from our history as BreaCan and then Counterpart.
This poster presentation was included in the 2nd Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference in February 2018.
Peer support, where women connect to others who share and understand their experience, is best practice in care and treatment pathways. This poster presentation outlines the key elements of Counterpart's peer support model, and the way it has evolved to meet the needs of Victorian women living with a cancer diagnosis.
The Victorian Cancer Survivorship Conference was hosted by the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre.
The Counterpart Year in Review 2016–17 includes stories from some of the women who contribute to the service — volunteers, women who use the service and health professionals. It is a celebration of the essence of the service and the highlights from the last financial year, providing an overview of how people affected by a gynaecological or breast cancer are supported through the Resource Centre, Bridge of Support programs, and various projects.
The BreaCan Year in Review 2015-2016 celebrates the highlights and achievements of the last financial year. It includes information about services delivered to people affected by a gynaecological or breast cancer through the Resource Centre, Bridge of Support programs, and projects. It also features several stories from service users and a health professional.
In 2015, Counterpart partnered with the Integrated Cancer Services of Barwon South West and Grampians regions to undertake a project to improve understanding of the support and information needs of women affected by cancer in rural and regional Victoria. The Connecting and Supporting Rural and Regional Women with Cancer project was funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Cancer Strategy Unit. The project report outlines the aims, methodology and findings of the project, and recommendations.
This plain English summary outlines the Connecting and Supporting Rural and Regional Women with Cancer project. The aim of this project was to improve understanding of the support and information needs of women affected by cancer in rural and regional Victoria. Counterpart undertook the project in partnership with Integrated Cancer Services of Barwon South West and Grampians.
The BreaCan Year in Review 2014-2015, documents the highlights and achievements of the service for the last financial year. It includes information about services delivered through the BreaCan Resource Centre, key service use data, major projects and strategic goals. It also features several stories from BreaCan service users.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2013 to 2014. Features articles on BreaCan's 10th birthday celebration, personal stories from our service users and key service use data.
A list of resources on breast and gynaecological cancers in Vietnamese and English. The PDF includes hyperlinks to these resources. This resource list was created as part of a project funded by Cancer Australia.
This PowerPoint presentation was developed from a Cancer Australia document and was translated and interpreted into Vietnamese. It also includes a recording of a Vietnamese interpreter reading out the information in Vietnamese. It was created as part of a project funded by Cancer Australia.
Please note: to play this file you will need Microsoft PowerPoint 2010, or similar program, and a computer with speakers.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2012 to 2013, and also celebrates highlights from the first decade of operation from 2003 to 2013. Featured are articles on the history of the service, personal stories from our service users and volunteers and key service use data.
This factsheet was produced as part of a collaborative project between BreaCan and Ovarian Cancer Australia that was funded by the Victorian Department of Health.
Download: Factsheet For Women Living In Victoria With A Gynaecological Cancer - PDF (828KB)
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2011 to 2012. This year’s publication reflects on what is the ‘fabric of BreaCan’ – the things that make the service special and unique, alongside the many achievements reached in the past financial year. Of note are the four personal stories of women who have used the service, their words describe the many elements which make up BreaCan’s fabric.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2010 to 2011. Featured are articles on the National Volunteer Week Celebration, personal stories from our peer support volunteers and key service use data.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2009 to 2010. Featured are articles on the innovative ‘Bridge of Support’ project being run in collaboration with the Royal Melbourne Hospital and key service use data.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2008 to 2009. Featured are articles on consumer participation through evaluation and new partnership programs.
Provides a concise overview of the goals and objectives of the service, endorsed by the WHV Council.
Highlights the achievements and work of the service for the financial year 2007 to 2008. BreaCan's 2007 Victorian Public Healthcare Award for Innovation in Models of Care is featured.
Highlights the significant transition of the service to providing women affected by gynaecological cancer with support and information.
Focuses on the transition of the service from pilot project to recurrent funded service and the relocation of the service to the Queen Victoria Women's Centre.
A multimedia booklet and DVD which explores the issues affecting young women with breast cancer, as told by a group of young women, in their own words. The DVD and booklet is available for women living in Victoria and can be sent out by contacting the Resource Centre. You can also download the booklet and watch the DVD online.
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