Senate inquiry to shine a national spotlight on women’s health

The Senate is set to establish a Select Committee on women’s health, bringing a range of long-standing issues under national scrutiny.

The inquiry, following a motion moved by South Australian Labor Senator Marielle Smith, will examine postpartum healthcare, women’s pain and experiences of medical misogyny, fertility and assisted reproduction, and the regulation of medical devices used in women’s healthcare.

For Senator Smith, the inquiry is informed in part by her own experience. She has spoken publicly about breastfeeding difficulties and postnatal anxiety.

“Holding a baby I wanted to nourish so badly, who needed me, and just feeling like a complete failure,” she reflected.

Senator Smith said the stigma surrounding women’s health can compound the impact of poor experiences in the health system, an issue she has already pursued through a similar inquiry during the previous term examining menopause and reproductive health.

That inquiry helped lay the groundwork for Labor’s $792.9 million women’s health package, which expanded access to menopausal hormone therapies and contraceptives, including Yaz, Yasmin, Estrogel, Estrogel Pro and Ryeqo through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), while also expanding Medicare rebates and services available through pelvic pain clinics.

“We know when it comes to women’s health that too often their pain and their symptoms are ignored or minimised,” Senator Smith said. “I want to make sure that we’re giving women an opportunity to share their stories, to have their voices heard, and then that we’re able to use their advocacy to drive some change in this area.”

The Inquiry into Women’s Pain Report, released by the Victorian Government in November 2025, also provides a stark indication of the experiences that can sit behind those concerns. Seven in ten women who responded to inquiry reported being ignored, dismissed or having their pain minimised by a health professional. Close to a quarter had seen more than ten medical services before receiving a correct diagnosis.

More than 13,000 women, girls, gender diverse people, carers and clinicians took part over eight months, a response nobody had predicted. The first-of-its-kind inquiry produced 27 recommendations across seven areas.

The Senate has now agreed to ask those questions nationally.

Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Rebecca White MP said “Every woman’s experience of healthcare is different and it’s important we listen to women and their families about their reproductive journey including their experiences of pregnancy loss and postpartum care. I encourage women, families, organisations and advocates to share their experiences and insights, so we can continue to improve care and support for women across Australia.”

The mental health burden is also significant.

Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, said “We know that around one in five new and expectant mothers experience perinatal depression or anxiety, and many never receive the support they need. We must build on the systems already in place to make sure every woman can navigate pregnancy and early parenthood with confidence, knowing support is only a small step away.”

“Too many women are suffering in the postpartum period. Too many are sitting in a darkness that can feel all consuming. We cannot leave them to face this alone,” said Senator Smith. “I am determined to use my role in the Senate to continue driving change in women’s health and am firmly of the belief that this is the next frontier that we must tackle with urgency.”

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