A year on, Victoria's women's pain action plan still missing

The inquiry that changed everything

Victoria's first inquiry into women's pain received over thirteen thousand responses from women, girls, clinicians, researchers and peak bodies. It found widespread dismissal and inadequate treatment in the health system.

Twenty-seven recommendations made

The inquiry made twenty-seven recommendations across seven key areas, including raising awareness to reduce gender bias and stigma, and more funding for women's health research.

The promised action plan is missing

The government promised to release an action plan by May 2026 to set clear goals and respond to the inquiry's findings. One year on, it has not been released.

Advocates fear the pattern continues

Fi Macrae, who co-chaired the inquiry, said the delay risks continuing the dismissal women experienced. She said pain impacts everything in her life, including her ability to work.

“My concern is that if we're not continuing the rollout of these recommendations, that's just continuing the pattern of dismissal.”

The action plan is accountability

Sally Hasler, chief executive of Women's Health Victoria, said the action plan is critical to show what action will be taken on the thirteen thousand women's contributions.

“The action plan is the accountability piece that will allow us and the 13,000 women who contributed to this inquiry to understand what action will be taken.”

Political parties urged to commit

Leah Filley, who has lived with chronic pelvic pain for twenty-five years, started a petition urging all political parties to commit to implementing the inquiry's recommendations ahead of the state election.

Government says action is underway

Minister for Health Ingrid Stitt said the government is acting on women's pain through a one hundred fifty-three million dollar women's health package, including twenty women's health clinics and more research.

“We're acting on what women have told us with our $153 million women's health package.”