"I am delighted to become the CEO of such a proactive organisation that seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of women by focusing on the social, economic and environmental conditions that impact on women's health."

"We know we have serious issues in our region where the rate of reported family violence is in some parts, double the state average," Ms Hendron said.

"The rate in Ararat is 78 per cent above the state average. We also know that young people need to have better access to services and information in our region. The level of teenage birth rates is 4.4 times higher in Ararat than the whole of Victoria."

Ms Hendron is well equipped to provide leadership in this area. She has a long history of working across the region in the health and community sector in social work and management roles. She has recently been executive officer of the Grampians Pyrenees Primary Care Partnership and is a former board and staff member of WHG.

Marianne is looking forward to continuing to work with key partners in community, government and health to address these priority areas.

"Collaboration and partnership with community leaders allows us to strengthen our knowledge and our reach to influence policy and social change and ultimately address the structural issues that impact on women's health," she said.

"Addressing the cultural factors that underlie violence against women such as attitudes that support gender inequalities, sexism and rigid adherence to gender stereotypes require a whole of community approach.

"WHG is making a significant impact in this area through initiatives such as Act@Work and Leading Change events which has been highly successful in Ararat.

"Likewise, to ensure optimal sexual and reproductive health, and informed choices, we need to work together.

"This includes working with Councils, health organisations and other key services to ensure that there is adequate access to relevant and value free information and services. The recently launched Services Guide has been welcomed in the Grampians/Pyrenees region."

Women's Health Grampians (WHG) is a not-for-profit, women's health service focused on improving the lives of women in the Grampians region. WHG works collaboratively with women, health professionals, policy makers and community organisations to influence and inform health policy and service delivery for women. The work of WHG is underpinned by a social model of health and a commitment to reducing inequities in health which arise from social, economic and environmental determinants.

Funded under the Victorian Women's Health Program, WHG is one of 12 women's health services in Victoria.