The Groundbreaking Study Shedding Light on Australia's Women's Health Crisis

A landmark national study released on International Women's Day 2026 has exposed the profound and often invisible health and social challenges facing Australian women and girls. Titled “Women deserve better,” this mixed-methods exploration, published in BMC Women's Health and led by researchers from Monash University's Health and Social Care Unit in collaboration with the Sisterhood Foundation, draws on responses from over 2,200 women and girls, interviews with 23 experts, and a comprehensive desktop review of literature and funding data. The research highlights how conditions and issues disproportionately or differently affecting females are systematically overlooked, under-researched, and underfunded, leading to poorer health outcomes and inequities in care.

Conducted between February and March 2025, the study reveals a healthcare system still largely modeled on male physiology, with women's unique needs—spanning biological, social, and environmental factors—frequently dismissed or misdiagnosed. Women report feeling rushed, ignored, or invalidated by providers, exacerbating suffering from 'silent' epidemics like endometriosis and menopause symptoms.

Domestic Violence Emerges as the Top Concern

Family and domestic violence tops the list of health fears for Australian women, cited by 57.6% of survey respondents as their primary worry. This pervasive issue not only causes immediate physical trauma but has cascading long-term effects on mental health, chronic pain, and reproductive outcomes. Studies link intimate partner violence (IPV) to increased risks of depression, anxiety, miscarriage, and infertility, with 27% of women experiencing it lifetime.

In Australia, IPV contributes significantly to the burden of disease for women aged 18-44, accounting for death, disability, and illness more than any other factor. Regional women face heightened vulnerability due to limited services, while First Nations women experience rates up to 3.8 times higher than non-Indigenous. The study's qualitative data underscores violence's role in perpetuating cycles of homelessness (ranked third at 37.3%) and mental health crises.

• Physical assaults lead to brain injuries from strangulation, impairing memory and cognition long-term.
• Sexual violence correlates with higher STI rates and unintended pregnancies.
• Social isolation compounds trauma, hindering recovery.

Mental Health: A Silent Epidemic Gripping Generations

Mental health conditions rank second (53.7%), with depression (66.3% calling for more funding) and anxiety (60.1%) disproportionately burdening women. Perinatal depression affects 1 in 10 mothers, yet support remains patchy. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), tracking over 57,000 women since 1996, confirms multimorbidity rises with age, with midlife women facing compounded psychological strain from caregiving and menopause.

Younger women prioritize perinatal issues, while older cohorts worry about Alzheimer's (65.7%). Suicide rates for women, though lower than men, reflect underreported attempts and ideation. Pandemic-era data shows a 40% spike in anxiety among girls, linked to social media and academic pressures. Experts note medical misogyny—women's symptoms labeled 'hysterical'—delays diagnosis, worsening outcomes.

Endometriosis and Chronic Pain: The Underfunded Agony

Endometriosis, affecting 1 in 10 reproductive-aged women (10% prevalence), exemplifies underfunding—ranked highest for needing support (72.9%). Diagnosis delays average 6.5-10 years, costing $7.4B annually in productivity losses. Only a fraction of the $3.5B research pot (3.3% total women's health) targets it, despite calls in the National Women's Health Strategy 2020-2030.

Fibromyalgia (5%) and chronic pain (61.5%) share similar neglect, with women 2-3x more affected. Pain dismissed as psychological leads to opioid dependency and disability. Regional access gaps amplify suffering, as specialist care clusters in cities.

The Sisterhood Foundation advocates 'beyond the bikini line,' urging focus on non-reproductive pains.

Menopause and Midlife Transitions: Ignored Life Stages

Peri/menopause symptoms plague 80% of women, yet ranked low in media (under 1%) and funding. Two-thirds enter unprepared, per surveys, facing hot flushes, mood swings, and bone loss. ALSWH midlife report stresses cumulative impacts on cardiovascular risk and cognition.

Older women fear Alzheimer's (women 2x risk), with chronic kidney disease (disproportionate) starved of funds. Life-course approach needed: young (endometriosis), midlife (menopause/depression), older (dementia/CVD).

The Stark Funding Disparity Exposed

Of $3.5B+ in 2023-24 grants (NHMRC/MRFF/ARC), just 3.3% ($116M) for women's health—56% reproductive-focused. Depression/chronic kidney got least. Endometriosis Australia notes NGOs fill gaps, but systemic change lags Women's Health Strategy goals.

Global parallels: McKinsey's blueprint flags $1T economic loss from gaps.

Regional and Intersectional Disparities Amplify Risks

Rural/regional women endure poorer outcomes: 20% higher chronic disease, violence access barriers. First Nations girls face 3x violence rates, maternal mortality 2.3x. Migrants/LGBTQIA+/disabled report dismissal compounded by language/racism.

Homelessness (women 42% rough sleepers) links to violence/mental health, lacking gender-specific shelters.

Expert Voices: Calls for Systemic Change

Dr Sara Holton: “Silence around these issues leads to inequities.” Prof Helen Skouteris: “One-size-fits-all fails women; need life-course lens.” Katie McLeish: “Dismissal silences suffering.”

ALSWH underscores trends: heavy bleeding concerns midlife women, multimorbidity surges.

Government Responses and Emerging Initiatives

2025 Budget boosted endometriosis ($29.2M over 5yrs), menopause research. NHMRC targets gender equity. Yet gaps persist; experts urge ring-fenced funding, provider training.

Pathways Forward: Recommendations and Hope

Study urges: gender-equitable funding, provider education, intersectional policies, co-design with women. Boost ALSWH-like cohorts. Actionable: advocate via Australian jobs in health research.

Optimism: rising awareness, $600M+ MRFF women's health stream signals shift.

Photo by 0xk on Unsplash

Empowering Women: Careers and Actionable Insights

Health researchers pivotal. Explore research jobs, postdoc success. Engage via comments, share stories for change.