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RANZCOG welcomes funding for National Advisory Council for Women’s Health

RANZCOG has welcomed funding in last night’s Federal Budget for the establishment of a National Advisory Council for Women’s Health.

RANZCOG

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Updated

14 June 2022

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RANZCOG has welcomed funding in last night’s Federal Budget for the establishment of a National Advisory Council for Women’s Health.

The Federal Government has committed $1.6 million over four years to fund RANZCOG to establish the Council to evaluate and monitor the implementation of the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030.

As outlined in RANZCOG’s Pre-Budget Submission, the Council will bring together representatives of key women’s health organisations, including the voices of consumers and priority populations.

RANZCOG President Dr Benjamin Bopp said: “RANZCOG thanks the Federal Government for this funding, and looks forward to working with the different organisations who are involved in the delivery of initiatives within the National Women’s Health Strategy.

Funding for endometriosis

RANZCOG has also welcomed funding for maintenance of the Australian Endometriosis Guideline so it can continue to reflect up-to-date clinical evidence, and further measures to improve the health outcomes of people suffering from endometriosis.

Specialist training in regional, rural and remote areas

While RANZCOG welcomes the Government’s budget commitment to encourage more specialists to undertake their training in regional, rural and remote areas, more needs to be done. Read RANZCOG’s statement calling for more sustainable, innovative models of care which also reinforces the lifestyle that attracts health care workers to work in rural, regional, and remote areas, including the introduction of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Education and Training (OGET) Program.

RANZCOG is piloting the OGET program in 2022-23, with the aim of developing a scalable and sustainable framework for maternity care in rural and remote Australia through ongoing capacity-building and upskilling opportunities. RANZCOG believes that a targeted, consistent approach towards upskilling and supporting medical professionals in rural and remote Australia is crucial to the delivery of high-quality maternity care.

Background

RANZCOG hosted a Women’s Health Summit at Parliament House, Canberra in May 2021, and engaged with over 200 organisations from across the country to develop a statement identifying key themes and recommendations around Women’s Health. The College has also been in ongoing discussions with the Federal Government on the most effective way to deliver some of the initiatives outlined in the National Women’s Health Strategy 2020-2030.