Robin's Reflections: Women's Health & Wellbeing Summit 

Women’s Health Week is an annual health awareness campaign organised by Jean Hailes for Women's Health. 

This year's theme is shining the spotlight on some of the biggest issues in women's health, under the banner of 'Your voice. Your choice', empowering women to take control of their health and advocate for themselves.

To recognise and celebrate Women's Health Week, Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation CEO Robin Penty attended the inaugural Women’s Health and Wellbeing Summit, hosted by independent media company, Women’s Agenda. Here are her reflections from the day: 

It’s a rare occurrence to be in a room filled with so many influential experts from such a wide-ranging spectrum of women’s health organisations. The lively group came together for one day, sharing their personal stories, knowledge, insights, and experiences of pain, exclusion or disease, each woman laser-focused on making a difference for future generations. 

The collective will in pursuit of a common goal was palpable: better and more investment and understanding in women’s health, research, wellbeing, and longevity. 

In a jam-packed day of listening, learning and connecting at the Women’s Health and Wellbeing Summit, we left feeling galvanised. 

Pictured above: Robin (centre), with Layne Beachley AO (left) and Nicole Rogerson CEO of Autism Awareness Australia (right)

Why a focus on women’s health is so important 

As women, we are traditionally the main carers in our community, making considerable sacrifices every day of our lives, equal parts physical, emotional, economic and social. Women and non-binary people are much more likely than men to suffer from certain chronic illnesses – such as autoimmune conditions, osteoporosis, cancers, and more. We are disproportionately affected by certain mental health conditions, from anxiety, depression and dementia to eating disorders. Tragically, we know that women and non-binary people are also far more likely to suffer gender-based violence.  

What is being done for women's health

In compelling keynote addresses and discussion panels, we heard from women such as Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, who talked about her mission to end gender inequity in healthcare, and to level the playing field through a suite of investments in women’s health, pain and medical research. The Assistant Minister is leading important work to end ‘medical misogyny’. We were delighted to hear that a focus on investment and inclusion in medical research is part of Ged’s master plan.  

Georgie Dent from The Parenthood facilitated a compelling panel on chronic pain, examining the abiding ways in which women expect themselves to endure and tolerate pain. Feisty Giulia Jones, CEO of Painaustralia, shared a great strategy to call out the experience of medical gaslighting when women’s health concerns are dismissed by professionals.  

There were excellent sessions on all stages of the life-course, including menstrual health, abnormal heavy bleeding, pregnancy, miscarriage and fertility issues. Rochelle Lake from Essity Australasia focused on the importance of addressing period poverty and reproductive and menstrual health policies in all Australian workplaces. Tanya Hosch shared a poignant personal story that reflects the confronting health gap for First Nations peoples, and what she is doing at the AFL to make things better for all players.  

One highlight was the sharp insightful presentation from Sarah White, CEO of the Jean Hailes Foundation. Women spend the entire second half of their lives in perimenopause and beyond. Let’s have more discussion on this important topic, please! Ten minutes was simply not enough. 

This was followed by Grace Tame, Khadija Gbla and Nicole Rogerson from Autism Awareness Australia in a frankly brilliant panel about neurodivergent women and girls, and ways to support carers as well. 

We were in awe of Jess Hill, who spoke persuasively about the impact of gendered violence on women’s lives, the long hard road of activism, and overdue actions that must be taken for women and children to be safe in our community. And it was a genuine honour to meet Layne Beachley AO, who offered wise words to ‘honour our bodies’ and be proactive about self-care and physical activity every day, to close out the summit.

Common themes from the Health and Wellbeing Summit 

A common thread throughout the event was how much women and girls ‘mask’ their symptoms, needs, challenges or pain to get through each day. There was much discussion about empathy, and even more, the grit, resilience and mental toughness of women was on full display throughout each panel discussion. 

Disparities in women’s health are not only affecting a woman’s quality of life, but their economic participation. According to a McKinsey report, economic growth over the past 70 years has been closely tied to women’s increased productivity and labour outside the home. 

So where does ovarian cancer sit among all this?

There are 10 top conditions alone affecting women that could make up 50% of future economic growth. Among conditions including premenstrual disorders, migraines, anxiety disorders, osteoarthritis, sits the only women’s cancer on the list: ovarian cancer. A clear indication as to what conditions should be addressed globally, to increase our participation and longevity. 

When we invest in women’s health, we invest in the global economy: for every $1 invested in women’s health, we achieve $3 in economic growth. Although women are living longer than men, we’re spending 25% more of our lives in debilitating health compared to men. Addressing this would boost the global economy by at least US$1 trillion annually, by 2040. 

However, with less than 0.7% of total medical research funding directed towards ovarian cancer by the Australian government, we know that ovarian cancer is not a core focus in this country. 

According to our peers at World Ovarian Cancer Coalition, if nothing is done to address ovarian cancer deaths from ovarian cancer, deaths are set to rise by 80 per cent in our region over the next 25 years. 

We are great admirers of the incredible team at Women’s Agenda and editors Tarla Lambert-Patel and Angela Priestley. They brought together a collection of leading lights for a day of stimulating discourse in support of our country’s fascinating and diverse population of women, girls and non-binary people. 

The OCRF will continue to join these pivotal conversations, ensuring ovarian cancer is brought into the national dialogue, alongside the many other women’s causes that demand more awareness, more examination, and more funding.