Inaugural consultation sets the course for women’s health policy

In a historic move, Australian women are being called upon to share their healthcare experiences in an effort to shape policy development and enhance health outcomes for women and girls across the nation. The initiative marks the country’s first-ever comprehensive attempt to bridge gaps in the healthcare system by understanding and addressing gender bias.

Conducted on a nationwide scale, this consultation seeks to gain insights into the personal experiences of women who have encountered bias within the healthcare system. The initiative is open to participation from a broad spectrum, including patients, healthcare providers, researchers, and other stakeholders.

The outcomes of this survey will be instrumental in guiding the National Women’s Health Advisory Council’s recommendations to the government. Participants are encouraged to report instances of delayed diagnosis, overmedication, dismissal of pain or symptoms, or the underutilisation of research and evidence in treating women’s health issues.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, emphasised the importance of hearing these stories, stating, “What I have heard countless times is that every woman has a story – but nobody has ever asked them to tell it. We know that often these experiences in the health system can be sensitive and difficult to share, so being able to participate in their own language can be really helpful for people. I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to share their experiences, and I urge anyone who has faced or witnessed gender bias in the health system to tell us about it.”

Minister Kearney highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting that conditions primarily affecting women often remain under-researched, undiagnosed, or untreated. She also pointed out the critical gap in knowledge regarding how certain conditions affect women’s bodies and physiology when it comes to ailments that affect both genders.

“We can’t fix what we don’t know, and this is the critical next step in helping us understand people’s experiences,” she stressed.

The National Women’s Health Advisory Council is focusing on addressing gender bias within the healthcare system across four priority areas: Safety, Research, Access, Care, and Outcomes, as well as Empowerment.

The consultation closes on 13 October and to take part in the National Women’s Health Advisory Council’s event, access the consultation here.

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