Australia’s First Inquiry Into Women’s Pain: A Wake-Up Call for Change
A long-overdue conversation
For decades, women+ in Australia have spoken about being dismissed or disbelieved when seeking help for pain. Now, the data confirms it.
In October 2024, the Victorian Government’s Women’s Health Advisory Council released findings from the first inquiry of its kind — a comprehensive investigation into how women’s pain is experienced, treated, and researched.
The report, led by a panel of medical experts, consumer representatives and researchers, gathered over 13,000 responses from Victorian women and girls, clinicians, researchers, and peak bodies. It paints a confronting picture of what too many already know: pain bias is real, and it has consequences.
What the inquiry found
The inquiry revealed widespread experiences of dismissal, disrespect, and inadequate treatment in the health system — from period pain and pelvic conditions to chronic illnesses like arthritis and endometriosis.
According to the report:
• 90% of women surveyed had lived with pain for more than a year.
• 54% said they experienced pain every day.
• Many reported being told their pain was 'normal,' 'in their head,' or 'something to live with.'
Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas described the findings as “difficult reading,” acknowledging that “the most common conditions women are experiencing include period pain, endometriosis, and arthritis. The report goes on to tell us that the impacts of these are not just the physical pain itself, but poor mental health, fatigue, poor sleep and low self-esteem.”
The inquiry also highlighted that pain disproportionately affects women across different communities — with First Nations women, women in regional areas, culturally diverse women, LGBTIQA+ people, and those with disabilities facing even greater barriers to care.
A research gap that runs deep
One of the inquiry’s most urgent findings is the lack of investment in women’s health research. Despite the prevalence of chronic and reproductive pain, there is still limited understanding of the biological, hormonal, and social factors that shape women’s pain experiences.
The report calls for:
• Increased funding for gender-inclusive medical research.
• Mandatory training in women’s health and pain science for healthcare professionals.
• The creation of specialist pain and pelvic health clinics across Victoria.
These steps are critical to dismantle the systemic inequities that have left women suffering in silence for generations.
Why this matters
Pain is not just a physical experience — it affects every part of a person’s life: sleep, relationships, work, and mental wellbeing.
When pain is dismissed, so is the person living it. This invalidation can lead to delayed diagnoses, worsened symptoms, and lasting trauma — especially for those navigating conditions like endometriosis, adenomyosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, and autoimmune disorders.
At Elgin House, we see this every day — and we believe in changing it.
Our stance
We stand with every woman+ whose pain has been overlooked or minimised.
We believe that:
• Pain is never 'just part of being a woman.'
• Listening is the first step in healing.
• Holistic, trauma-informed care must become the standard, not the exception.
By combining medical, nutritional, physical, and emotional support, we aim to help women+ feel heard, validated, and cared for — in every sense of the word.
Because your pain is real. Your story matters. And your care deserves to be just as comprehensive as you are. 💛
By: Carly Rowley - Elgin House Practice Manager
References & Further Reading
1. Victorian Department of Health (2024). Inquiry into Women’s Pain: Final Report. Victorian Government, Women’s Health Advisory Council. https://www.health.vic.gov.au/inquiry-into-womens-pain
2. ABC News (2024, Oct 20). ‘Difficult reading’: Inquiry finds widespread dismissal of women’s pain. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-20/victoria-inquiry-women-pain-report/104035684
3. The Guardian Australia (2024, Oct 20). ‘We need to do better’: Women’s pain inquiry reveals systemic dismissal and harm. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/oct/20/victoria-womens-pain-inquiry
4. RANZCOG (2024). Response to the Inquiry into Women’s Pain. https://ranzcog.edu.au/