Monash Women's Health Alliance

We love the focus of our Monash Women's Health Alliance members on the important topics of preconception and pregnancy health, and how digital health platforms can be part of a solution to improve outcomes for women and their babies.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis in Australia, affecting 10% of women. An innovative Monash University-led study has shown that structured education and exercise therapy may be cost-effective measures that delay or avoid knee replacement surgery in people with lower pain levels, while improving healthcare sustainability. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gfPE_BuS

Dr Ester Davis, cardiologist and researcher at the Victorian Heart Hospital and Co-Lead of the Women's Heart Health Research Challenge at the Monash Victorian Heart Institute says "Too many women simply do not know that cardiovascular disease is a major killer of women in Australia. Almost every hour of every day an Australian women dies of heart disease. We need to educate women about heart disease and encourage women to advocate for their own heart health."

Have you heard of the gender health gap? The gender health gap refers to the differential treatment women and girls experience when seeking healthcare, compared to men, and the negative impacts this has on their overall health. This inequity is partially due to the gender research gap, which historically excluded women from medical research. Throughout our member engagement this year we have continuously heard your requests for action to close the gender gap in health research. To respond to this call, Gender Equity Victoria (GEN VIC) is collaborating with Monash Women's Health Alliance, the Victorian Chapter of the Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) and Women's Health Victoria to combine our efforts and find solutions at a partnership event. 📅 Friday 25 October 🕧 12.30pm – 2.30pm 💻 Online or in person 📍 Queen Victoria Women's Centre Hosted by Prof. The Hon. Jill Hennessy GAICD Hennessy, former Minister for Health and current Chair of Monash Women's Health Alliance, this event will explore the current gender gaps in health research, implications for treatment and gather practical solutions that can be introduced to address the problem.  Minister for Health, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP will provide an overview of what the Victorian Government is exploring and representatives from each partnering organisation will also share their perspectives and experiences to inform ongoing collaborative actions. Together we can make a difference and introduce much needed changes to improve health outcomes for our women and girls.  Registration for this event is FREE for GEN VIC and partnering members but places are limited so please secure your place via the link below ⬇ https://lnkd.in/gFq8viVw This is event is part of Beyond the Bias – a festival of women’s health and equity, by Women’s Health Victoria and Queen Victoria Women’s Centre. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gxF32XZj #genderequality #genderequity #womenshealth #gendergap #genderhealthgap #healthresearch

We are incredibly proud to announce that our health service has been nominated as a finalist for the 2024 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards in the Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing category.   The Women’s Health team has been recognised for its partnership with local Aboriginal Gathering Places to provide cervical and bowel cancer screenings in a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal women. The team also engaged a local artist to facilitate a class, creating an informal setting that empowers Aboriginal women to take charge of their health and supports their self-determination.  Winners will be announced on Tuesday 19 November, at the 18th annual Victorian Public Healthcare Awards Gala Night. Congratulations to all the finalists.  

The Senate inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause tabled its report this week. The report contains 25 recommendations to better support women at this stage of their lives. Read what some of our women’s health experts from across the Alliance had to say about the report and the recommendations ⬇ https://lnkd.in/ghDqSvDB Prof. The Hon. Jill Hennessy GAICD #WomensHealthMatters #Menopause #Perimenopause

A new Australian Evidence-based Guideline for unexplained infertility has been published today, with new Translational Program resources, including an Ask Fertility App. The Guideline, published today in the MJA, will better inform patients and increase the chances of pregnancy.  The work is led by Prof Robert Norman, Dr Michael Costello and Prof Helena Teede from the Centre for Research Excellence in Women’s Health in Reproductive Life (CRE WHiRL). They partnered with ESHRE to develop the Guideline and engaged Australian experts and consumers to adapt it for use in Australia. The Guideline advances our understanding of infertility prognosis and treatment and has new evidence-based recommendations so that women and their partners can avoid often expensive, ineffective, or unproven treatments. It will help to streamline and simplify treatments, potentially reducing cost and increasing equity. The Guideline and associated resources for health professionals and consumers can be downloaded: https://bit.ly/4eoyQwj & read the story: https://bit.ly/47uEwmd Ask Fertility -  www.askfertility.org – is the latest App in our suite of women's health Ask Apps. It helps women with unexplained infertility find information of the highest quality from leading experts and includes self-care and shared decision-making tools. The Guideline is funded and approved by the NHMRC, endorsed by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RANZCOG and will be presented for the first time at The Fertility Society of Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) conference tomorrow. More on the Monash University website: https://bit.ly/47uEwmd Published today in Medical Journal of Australia: https://bit.ly/4e9K1JB In the Herald Sun today - New IVF protocol ‘win’ for couples: bit.ly/4d2RKYJ

Congratulations to our Director Prof Helena Teede, now an Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | RCOG for her outstanding contribution to women’s health worldwide. Prof Teede received her Fellowship at an Admission Ceremony in the UK today.

Join us during PCOS awareness month on the Ask PCOS App forum when our clinicians are available for 2 hours to answer your #PCOS questions. This year's Ask PCOS - Get an expert answer will be held on Thursday 19th Sept between 10am-12pm. Log on to the discussion forum, speak to our clinicians & join the conversation at www.askpcos.org Read more: http://bit.ly/4ggas1K. #pcosawarenssmonth #womenshealth #monashwomenshealthalliance.

Register now for what will be an insightful webinar on the UK experience with a contraception decision making tool