Thanks to the Albanese Labour government, all states and territories are receiving the first endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics in Australia.
At least 1 in 9 Australian women have endometriosis, which can severely, debilitatingly affect victims’ daily lives. Patients endure for an average of seven years before receiving a diagnosis.
Like back pain, pelvic discomfort can be complex and incapacitating, and it is estimated that it costs the Australian economy $6 billion annually.
As the Government’s decision to extend its commitment from 16 to 20 clinics, more women in Australia now have access to specialized, multidisciplinary care. There is now at least one Clinic in each state and territory, spread across regional and urban areas.
Over four years, each Clinic will receive more than $700,000 to support hiring specialized staff, such as nurse practitioners and allied health professionals, purchasing equipment or fit-outs, such as areas for pelvic physiotherapy, and the provision of resources, training, and development.
The clinics will reinforce general practices already in place by collaborating with them to improve what is frequently the first point of contact in the healthcare system, speed up diagnostics, and encourage early access to multidisciplinary intervention, care, and treatment.
In addition to directly assisting patients, the clinics will increase access to information and care routes, develop professional knowledge and abilities, and raise awareness of endometriosis and pelvic pain.
By scheduling an appointment at one of the 20 linked clinics, patients can access the clinics.
The Clinics are a component of the $58.3 million package for endometriosis and pelvic discomfort that the Albanese Government announced in the 2022–23 Budget.
Ged Kearney, the Australian Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, stated, “too many women endure for years with diseases that we know can be devastating.” They deserve improved access to specialized treatment, and their concerns were taken seriously.
“These Clinics aim to give women an accessible entry point to the care they require. Proper assistance for women requires bringing specialists under one roof, nurturing knowledge to advance diagnosis and treatment, and setting up referral channels. Endometriosis and pelvic pain have been fiercely battled by activists in the field and our communities for a long period. “The government is committed to improving women’s health, and this is a major step forward for a portion of the population that has been ignored for too long,” I want to say to those people.
