Endometriosis and Women's Health
Endometriosis is a condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide, yet its personal impact often goes unnoticed or misunderstood. One in seven women are diagnosed with endometriosis in Australia, but given the time it takes to get that diagnosis, the number of sufferers is likely much higher.
As someone who has battled endometriosis, I know firsthand how it can disrupt daily life, relationships, a career and even one's identity. The pain can be debilitating, but it is the less tangible effects such as the uncertainty, the misdiagnoses, and the struggle to be understood. That often make this condition particularly isolating.
For me, pushing for better outcomes in South Australia is more than just a parliamentary duty - it is a reflection of my own journey with endometriosis. The symptoms, often invisible to the outside world, bring daily challenges that range from physical pain to emotional and psychological stress.
It is my sincere hope that our ongoing work will foster greater awareness, empathy, and support for those affected, and contribute to the growing conversation around faster diagnosis, better treatment, and compassionate care. Sufferers are not just numbers or statistics, they are individuals navigating a challenging path, and their voices and experiences deserve to be heard.
The Parliamentary Select Committee into Endometriosis
In March 2024, I was incredibly proud to establish and Chair the Parliamentary Select Committee into Endometriosis. Over several months, we heard from brave individuals who shared their personal stories, as well as medical professionals, researchers and support organisations.
We found that women currently face an unacceptable average delay of six years to receive a formal diagnosis. To change this, our committee delivered a landmark report to State Parliament featuring 20 key recommendations aimed at reducing the diagnosis time to just one year and improving overall health outcomes.
Key recommendations include:
Better Training & Care Pathways: Enhanced training for GPs, gynaecologists, and allied health professionals, and improving care pathways so women have more options than attending a hospital emergency department.
Specialised Clinics: Establishing more specialist endometriosis and chronic pain clinics in the public health sector.
Improved Education: Expanding the Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP Talk) in schools to educate young people on what is a 'normal' period and what is not.
Public Awareness: Launching broad public health campaigns to increase community knowledge about endometriosis and inflammatory pelvic pain.
As part of our committee's recommendations, the State Government hosted an Endometriosis Roundtable to identify best practices for supporting employees experiencing reproductive health challenges.
Delivering More Support for Women's Health
On the back of the committee's findings and our continued advocacy, the Malinauskas State Government is investing $33 million to transform how South Australian women access primary care, fertility support and reproductive health.
Our commitments taken to the 2026 State Election to support women include:
🏥 Five New Women's Health Clinics: We will establish five specialised, bulk-billing clinics (three in Adelaide, two in the regions) offering longer appointments for endometriosis and pelvic pain management, menopause care and preventative health checks.
💻 SA's First Virtual Pelvic Pain Clinic: Operated by the Women's and Children's Hospital, this nurse-led service will provide expert advice and care navigation so women can be supported consistently from the comfort of their own homes.
🍼 Publicly-Funded IVF Rebate Scheme: To help South Australians grow their families, we are introducing a $250 rebate for pre-IVF fertility testing and a $2,000 rebate for fertility treatment (available for up to two cycles).
🩺 Improved Pain Management for IUDs: We are expanding the use of the "green whistle" (Penthrox) for IUD insertions across public outpatient clinics and primary care, acknowledging that women's pain must be taken seriously.
📢 Major Public Health Campaign: A major awareness campaign focused on pelvic pain and endometriosis, including funding to keep the PPEP Talk program in our schools through to 2029, and creating targeted information kits for GPs.
No woman or girl should have to suffer in silence. I will continue to fight for better healthcare, more research, and greater understanding for all endometriosis warriors in our community. If you would like to share your story or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.