Women’s health is one of the five priority areas nominated by the government under its new gender equality strategy. So how does it approach funding it in this budget?
One of the headline measures already announced by the government is the inclusion of longer consultations for women with complex gynaecological conditions, like endometriosis, under Medicare. Costed at $49.1 million over four years, the change will mean women can access longer consultations with a lower out of pocket cost.
The government says this is the first budget that addresses the complex and systemic bias that exists against women in healthcare, and acknowledges the need for better qualitative data on a range of women’s health issues like menopause, fertility, and pregnancy loss.
It also follows the #EndGenderBias survey undertaken by the National Women’s Health Advisory Council, that found two-thirds of women in Australia experienced gender bias or discrimination while accessing healthcare.
Notably, the budget recognises dementia as the leading cause of death for women in Australia, but does not provide any funding for research into the disease.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown of the key women’s health initiatives funded in this budget.
Better research and data collection
The budget provides $53.6 million (over four years) for research into issues including menopause, pregnancy loss and fertility – areas of concern for women which have been historically under-funded.
There is $8 million over three years for the development of data sets on miscarriages, as well as sexual and reproductive health. Data collection on the issue of miscarriage and early pregnancy loss has been one of the key policies that has been advocated for by groups like the Pink Elephants Support Network. The funding will also go towards evaluation activities for early pregnancy loss assessment services.
The government says the data collection will help the government to create future policies on these issues.
Women’s healthcare wins
In healthcare, the budget includes the already announced $49.1 million to go towards providing longer consultations for complex gynaecological conditions like endometriosis and pelvic pain.
The government has also announced that Australians will get access to abemaciclib (Verzenio®), an early stage breast cancer treatment, through the PBS. It will bring the cost of the medication to $31.60 per script. Without this subsidy, the treatment can cost individuals $97, 000 per course.
There is also funding to support the training of healthcare practitioners in long-acting reversible contraception insertion and removal in an effort to improve contraception options and accessibility. The government will also develop a virtual contraception decision-making tool that can be used by health professionals and the broader public.
Period products for First Nations communities
Meanwhile $12.5 million will be provided to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to facilitate community-led, culturally appropriate distribution of free period products in remote communities. And there is also $1.2 million for the training of healthcare professionals on menopause.
Maternity care
Recommendations from the MBS Review Taskforce for midwives will also be implemented, with $56.5 million over four years to improve maternity care. The package will ensure women receive better care when they need it during the antenatal and postnatal stages. It includes a mental health screening at six weeks postnatal.
Miscarriage and early pregnancy loss
On top of the government’s commitment to better data sets on miscarriage, there will be a new public awareness and education program to start a public conversation about miscarriage. It will also educate health professionals to provide better support for women and families who experience it.
For First Nations women, there will be $5.8 million invested over two years to continue prevention work on preterm and early-term births. There is also $900,000 to go towards the National Stillbirth Action and Implementation Plan 2020–2030. Additionally, there will be $3.5 million provided to expand the Midwife Professional Indemnity Scheme to better enable Birthing on Country programs.
Menopause training
There is $1.2 million in funding over two years to support training for health professionals to better treat and manage women’s health during menopause. The funding will make training for professionals easier to access so they can bring their knowledge up to date.
Mental health
There are also general announcements around mental health, including the establishment of a national digital service for people experiencing mild mental health symptoms, from January 2026, as well as an upgraded network of Medicare Mental Health Centres.