Women have different health needs
Conducted as part of the Victorian Government’s landmark Inquiry into Women’s Pain, the Women’s Health Survey revealed that too many women and girls continue to face challenges when seeking care.
Many said they felt ignored or dismissed by clinicians, who attributed their pain to psychological and personality factors.
They spoke of delayed diagnosis, the high cost of care and the impact of pain on their quality of life, relationships and careers.
Over the past 2 years, the Victorian Government has invested $24 million to address the women’s pain gap, working towards better diagnosis, treatment and support.
This Budget continues that effort, helping to ensure our health system better recognises, understands and responds to the health needs of women and girls.
Ensuring accessible healthcare for every Victorian
We’re building a healthcare system that truly supports women – giving them confidence they’ll be listened to, and delivering care that is respectful, timely and tailored.
This includes $18 million to expand free pharmacy consultations for even more conditions.
Previously trialled as the Community Pharmacy Pilot, this initiative has already helped women avoid the time and cost of a doctor’s appointment by enabling pharmacists to resupply oral contraceptives and treat straightforward urinary tract infections without a doctor's prescription.
Now, it’ll be made permanent – and include many more conditions.
That means pharmacies will be able to help even more Victorians with even more conditions – including allergies, nausea, high blood pressure and mild muscle pain.
We’re also covering the cost of consultation fees – giving women more choices for free healthcare.
We’re also reducing barriers to care, with:
- $634 million to open and operationalise 9 new or expanded hospitals, including the opening of the expanded Maryborough and District Hospital with more maternity services to allow more mums to give birth locally, as well as dedicated paediatric zones within the updated Emergency Department at the University Hospital Geelong and the redeveloped Frankston Hospital, making a trip to hospital less stressful for young Victorians and their families.
- $27 million to continue support for our 12 Urgent Care Clinics, which provide free, timely and accessible care closer to home, particularly for women who are more likely to be primary carers.
- $22 million to continue free overnight, multi-night and day program help for parents with kids under 4 at Early Parenting Centres in Ballarat, Bendigo, Casey, Geelong, Whittlesea and Wyndham.
- $20 million in funding to extend the Home and Community Care for Younger People program, which helps lighten the load of informal carers – who are more likely to be women.
- $3.4 million in funding to provide support for asylum seekers and newly arrived refugees, including pregnant women who often have more complex conditions.
Improving access to mental health support
Mental health care is important for everyone. But how we receive that care, and what that care is for, can look different for girls and women.
Women and girls experience mental illness at nearly twice the rate of men and boys.
As with mainstream healthcare, women are also more likely to experience barriers to accessing mental health services. That’s why we’re improving access to mental health care for women and young people with an investment of $35 million.
This includes $23 million to expand on the success of our Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals, with 7 new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local locations – providing free mental health treatment and support for more Victorians, including women and girls.
The early days of parenthood can be isolating, and rates of postnatal depression are as high as 1 in 5 mothers of children under 2.
We know how important it is for parents to get support during this time.
That's why this Budget invests in mental health and wellbeing for parents, children and young people, including:
- $28 million for mental health and wellbeing support for children and young people, including group-based parenting programs to help parents support their child’s emotional and psychological wellbeing.
- $22 million to continue perinatal health services for new and expectant parents.
- $10 million to continue supporting services that are led by lived experience. This includes the Satellite Foundation program, which supports young people and children when a family member experiences mental illness.
Mental health is particularly important for the LGBTIQA+ community, with nearly 1 in 2 LGBTIQA+ adults being diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
This Budget invests:
- $15 million for life-saving support for trans and gender diverse young people, who often don’t feel safe using mainstream services. They also experience higher rates of bullying, lack of family support and attempted suicide than the general population.
- $1.9 million towards the HOPE program, providing peer, wellbeing and clinical support to Victorians following a suicide attempt.
- $1.5 million to provide mental health support to the LGBTIQA+ communities through the QHub and Trans and Gender Diverse Peer Support Program – to respond to their over-representation in mental health and self-harm statistics.
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