Kara Cook (Bonner, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Women experiencing endometriosis and pelvic pain have, for too long, been overlooked, dismissed and left waiting years for answers—not weeks, not months, but years. This is not just bad period pain. This is a serious health issue. As we've heard today from every single speaker, I think everyone is in fierce agreement that it needs to be taken seriously and that we need to deliver the services.

I know that this is an issue that is deeply personal for many women. I was one of those women. From the age of about 15 years, I personally experienced very heavy periods, debilitating pain and ongoing pelvic health concerns that continued well into adulthood. Like too many women, it took years for my concerns to be taken seriously. I was eventually connected with the care I needed, through an understanding GP, after the births of my three children. I know that my experience is far from unique. Many women and girls in my community of Bonner have shared their stories—stories of pain being dismissed, symptoms being normalised and years spent waiting for answers. Too many still suffer in silence. That is why I am proud that the Albanese Labor government has delivered 33 endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics right across our country. Women and girls now have access to specialised care in every primary-health-network region right across our country.

Endometriosis affects one in seven Australian women. It is a condition that can cause severe chronic pain, fatigue and fertility challenges, yet women still face an average seven-year delay in diagnosis. The lesser known adenomyosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. It can also cause heavy periods, bloating, pelvic pain and fatigue, and it is most commonly diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s. That was part of my diagnosis. Pelvic pain is also a complex, often debilitating, condition that carries enormous personal, social and economic impact, costing the Australian economy an estimated $6 billion each and every year. Behind all of these statistics are, of course, women whose lives have been disrupted—a young woman who might be missing school because the pain is unbearable, people struggling to remain in the workforce, women sitting in emergency departments desperate for answers or women who have spent years wondering if their feelings are normal or if this is somehow their fault. Women deserve better than that. That is exactly part of what these clinics deliver.

Each endometriosis and pelvic pain clinic provides expert multidisciplinary care for women and girls living with endometriosis and pelvic pain conditions. Importantly, they operate within existing general practices. Keeping care close to home and connected to community is so important. That means that women can access earlier diagnosis, improve pain management, have stronger referral pathways and get better support from professionals who understand the complexity of these conditions. Our local clinic that has opened in Oxley is helping women from my community in Bonner, and it is servicing the Brisbane south region. Across Australia, the clinics have already supported more than 10,000 women and girls and delivered more than 28,000 services for those living with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain.

The other important thing that we need to do is raise awareness and support. Last week, I was so pleased to see the Albanese Labor government's $8.4 million commitment to Jean Hailes. Through trusted online health information, practical resources, webinars, research and national initiatives like Women's Health Week, Jean Hailes is helping millions of women and girls better understand health and access through evidence based information they can trust, including on issues like endometriosis and pelvic pain, both in our cities and of course in the regions.

Alongside endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics, better information and awareness can help women access care sooner, feel more informed and know they are not navigating these experiences alone. Women deserve to be believed when it comes to their health, and the Albanese Labor government understands this and is delivering for all women.

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