The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG; the College) is honoured to be organising and presenting the Women’s Health Summit 2024 at Parliament House, Canberra on 14 March. This year’s Summit will be the third of its kind after previous editions held in 2018 and 2021. This year’s Summit focuses on women’s experiences with the health system, and the program is built around four themes: Improving access, care and health outcomes; empowerment; safety, and research. 

RANZCOG is privileged to be working with Assistant Minister of Health and Aged Care, the Honourable Ged Kearney, and the National Women’s Health Advisory Council, to present the Summit. As part of an extensive program, Assistant Minister Kearney will address the key findings of the End Gender Bias survey. The survey finds considerable numbers of women in Australia report experiencing bias in the health care system, and frequently cite pain being dismissed or downplayed.  

“RANZCOG has a lengthy history of advocating for women’s health and are gratified that the issue of women’s pain is put into such stark relief by these survey results,” said College President Dr Gillian Gibson, “RANZCOG as a College has been particularly interested in this topic and is looking forward to engaging further through upcoming opportunities such as the Victorian Government’s Inquiry into Women’s Pain.”   

RANZCOG welcomes Assistant Minister Kearney’s release of these survey results and urges the Government and all stakeholders to work together to improve the management and care for women’s pain. The work through the Victorian Inquiry will be important in this respect. But the issue of women’s pain is national in scope and RANZCOG is committed to working collaboratively on suitable national solutions with all interested parties.  

The College looks forward to insightful discussions at the Summit and is eager to continue our work in continuously improving women’s experiences with the health care system in Australia. 

The Summit is a hybrid event and registration for virtual attendance is now open. 

For media enquiries
Bec McPhee
Manager, Executive Office & Advocacy
0413 258 166
bmcphee@ranzcog.edu.au