The Women's Health Services Network (WHSN) welcomes the release of the Victorian Government's Inquiry into Women's Pain report, Bridging the Gender Pain Gap, and the Government's commitment to implementing key recommendations.
"Hearing and holding women's stories of pain is a privilege and a responsibility that we are pleased to see the Victorian Government taking seriously," said Dr Adele Murdolo, CEO of the Multicultural Centre for Women's Health and Chair of the Women's Health Services Network.
"Women, especially those facing marginalisation such as migrant and refugee women and women with disabilities, have courageously shared their experiences of pain being dismissed, minimised and inadequately treated. This report honours those voices."
The WHSN supports the actions announced by the Victorian Government in response to the report. These include the development of a Women's Pain Action Plan, expanding access to the green whistle pain relief for IUD insertion, the development of a women's pain standard, and the establishment of an adolescent and girls' clinic at the Royal Children's Hospital.
"We look forward to meaningful action that reflects this responsibility and look forward to working with the Government to improve the experience of all Victorian women in the health system," Dr Murdolo said.
The WHSN particularly welcomes the report's recognition of intersecting barriers to health and the alignment with many recommendations from the WHSN's own submission to the Inquiry.
"We expect the recommendations to be implemented in full," Dr Murdolo said. "Victoria's Women's Health Services are ready to be central partners in this work, to contribute our expertise, our community connections and to elevate women's voices.
"The Victorian Women's Health Services can play a vital role in developing the Women's Pain Action Plan and the women's pain standard. We can ensure women's voices are included throughout the process, and once the standard is established, we can ensure women know about it and what it means for their healthcare."
The WHSN has offered to work as an implementation partner with the Victorian Government and calls for the Victorian Women's Health Services to be included in the development of the Action Plan, workforce development initiatives, and community campaigns.
About us:
About Women's Health Services Network
The Women's Health Services Network has been a driving force progressing and shaping Victoria's women's health and equality space for four decades. While our services were established and funded independently of one another, collaboration has been a strong part of our history. Today, the 12 women's health services funded through the state government's Victorian Women's Health Program collaborate under the title the 'Victorian Women's Health Services Network'. This enables us to work as a coordinated, mutually-reinforcing statewide network comprising both place-based and specialist services.
