National Women's Health Policy

The Department of Health and Aging launched a new National Women's Health Policy on 29 December 2010, replacing the first policy, released in 1989, and accompanying the National Male Health Policy, released in May 2010.

The first phase of the consultation process started in March 2009, when the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon, released a discussion paper. The Alliance consulted with LGBTI community organisations and individuals and made a submission in response to this document in June 2009, followed by an additional written submission in December 2009. We also participated in a the consultation forums held across Australia during October 2009 and encouraged our membership to get involved.

In line with international developments and the Government's social inclusion agenda, the policy emphasises prevention, health inequalities in Australian society, and the social determinants of health inequalities.

The National LGBTI Health Alliance submissions called on Government to acknowledge the specific needs of lesbians, bisexual women and other women who have sex with women, and the specific barriers and issues faced by trans and intersex people whose bodies may not conform to common understandings of ‘female”.

We are very pleased that the National Women's Health Policy 2010 followed our recommendation to recognise sexuality, sex and gender identity as social determinants of health. It identifies lesbian and bisexual women as one of five groups of women who can be at significantly higher risk of poor health and acknowledges that the promotion of health equity requires a focus on these groups.

The policy addresses the health impact of discrimination, violence and marginalisation associated with heteronormativity and homophobia on same-sex attracted and transgender women and specifically refers to the experiences and needs of lesbian and bisexual women in relation to key health issues, such as obesity, cancer, smoking, sexual health, dementia care, preventative health and mental health.

Although there is insufficient consideration of the specific needs and challenges faced by trans and intersex people in a gender-based health policy, the National Women's Health Policy 2010 represents a significant step forward and provides a valuable took to promote health equity across all sexualities, genders and sexes.

The inclusion of lesbian and bisexual women in particular, and trans and intersex people to some extent, demonstrates that the government has listened to the Alliance and its members. However, the policy now needs to be followed by actions and worked on in partnership with community groups. Given that the LGBTI community sector is very poorly resourced and the mainstream health sector has not tended to work inclusively of same-sex attracted women or trans and intersex people to date, this will require government funding. The announcement did not include a commitment to additional funding, so it remains to be seen how the National Women's Health Policy will be implemented.

View or download Alliance publications relating to the National Women's Health Policy:

Alliance Media Release, Jan 2011: National Women's Health Policy

Additional Submission to the National Women's Health Policy Consultation, December 2009

Submission to the National Women's Health Policy Consultation, June 2009

Here are some examples of media coverage in response to the policy launch:

12 Jan 2011 City Voice on National Women's Health Policy

12 Jan 2011 Sydney Star Observer on National Women's Health Policy