Women’s Health Week and The Gender Health Gap

Carolyn Gillespie, CEO of Women’s Health in the North and chair of the Victorian Women’s Health Services Network joins us to discuss women’s health during Women’s Health Week. We explore why Victoria’s 35-year-old women’s health infrastructure is among the best in Australia, and why gender equality is the most pressing driver of women’s health outcomes. Jake and Joel also discuss with Carolyn the Victorian parliamentary inquiry into women’s pain, the everyday realities of the gender health gap, and what genuinely inclusive care looks like for queer women and gender diverse people. Finally, we tackle mental health, social connection, and gender based violence as core public health issues, and share one small step listeners can take for their own wellbeing this Women’s Health Week. Chapters 02:20 – Introducing Carolyn and inclusive definitions 06:10 – Most pressing health issues facing women 09:50 – Explaining the gender health gap simply 13:50 – Victorian parliamentary inquiry into women’s pain 17:30 – Socioeconomic and intersectional barriers to care 21:00 – Inclusive care for queer women and gender diverse folk 25:20 – Safety, loneliness and mental health connections 32:00 – Gender based violence as a public health crisis 36:00 – Funding priorities, prevention and Women’s Health Week actions All chapter timecodes are approximate. Want more Well Well Well? Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at [email protected] Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org. Produced by: Joel Parker, Jake Neville