Key Points
A Rebecca White Labor Government will support women’s health and economic wellbeing.
As part of our Plan, Labor will:
- Fund a clinical service in the north for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain
- Establish contemporary and consistent clinical practice guidelines for the treatment of women’s pain
- Increase reproductive health outreach in regional Tasmania
- Continue funding Women’s Health Tasmania
- Support Dress for Success facilitate women’s economic empowerment
- Incorporate gender equity into the Industrial Relations Act 1984.
Why we need to do more
One in seven women live with Endometriosis, but diagnosis and support are not as readily available as it should be.
“Tasmanian women deserve better access to healthcare no matter where they live”
Chronic pain affects a higher proportion of girls and women than men around the world; however, women are less likely to receive any form of treatment.
Research has also shown that women generally experience more recurrent pain, more severe pain, and longer-lasting pain than men.
Medical gender bias routinely leads to a denial of pain and therefore, lack of pain relief and associated treatment for women.
We want to change that, because Tasmanian women deserve better access to healthcare no matter where they live.
The details
Under our Plan to boost women’s health and economic wellbeing, Labor will:
Fund a clinical service for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain
A Rebecca White Labor Government will partner with Family Planning Tasmania in the north of the state to establish a clinical service for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain, to improve access for diagnostic, treatment and referral services, along the lines of the Australian Government program.
Establish new clinical guidelines
A Labor Government will establish contemporary and consistent clinical practice guidelines, through the Tasmanian Health Service, for the assessment, treatment and admission to women presenting to Tasmanian Emergency Departments with abdominal pain, atypical cardiovascular symptoms, birth trauma and miscarriage.
We will also provide $4.7 million for a surgical robot at the Launceston General Hospital which will deliver a better level of care, including for including for precision gynaecological surgery.
Increase reproductive health outreach
In regional Tasmania, there is limited or no direct access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Outreach services allow individuals in these communities to address sensitive issues without approaching someone with potential connections, ensuring privacy and unbiased support.
That’s why Labor in Government will fund Family Planning Tasmania to undertake outreach services across the state, including in Smithton, St Helens, Beaconsfield, Queenstown, George Town, and Geeveston.
Continue funding Women’s Health Tasmania
Women’s Health Tasmania undertakes vital activities, support and advocacy around women’s health, and Labor will provide it with guaranteed funding over the next three years to continue that work.
Drive gender equity in the workplace
A Labor Government will work with unions to amend the Industrial Relations Act 1984 and other relevant instruments to incorporate gender equity measures that have been introduced in federal legislation, and legislate for a Gender Equity Act for Tasmania.