About the initiative
The Australian Government is funding endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics in every state and territory in Australia. These clinics aim to:
- improve access for patients to diagnostic, treatment and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain
- build the primary care workforce to manage this chronic condition
- improve access to new information and care pathways.
Why it is important
Endometriosis is a complex and debilitating chronic condition that can be hard to diagnose, with those suffering waiting an average of 7 years before diagnosis. It is a progressive condition that can start at puberty and continue through to old age. In Australia it affects at least one in nine girls, women and those assigned female at birth.
Goals
The clinics will provide multi-disciplinary care with a focus on:
- improving the timeliness of diagnosis
- promoting early access to intervention, care, treatment options, and referral services for endometriosis and pelvic pain.
Meeting our goals
We are funding the clinics through the Primary Health Networks (PHN). Clinics have a range of mechanisms available to ensure:
- provision of services to priority populations
- affordable patient support services
- greater accessibility for patients across the community.
Recognising that endometriosis is a complex condition that effects people in many ways, these services and treatments will be multidisciplinary.
Current endometriosis and pelvic pain clinics
| State | Clinic | Location | PHN |
|---|---|---|---|
|
NSW |
Orange Family Medical Centre |
Orange, NSW |
Western NSW PHN |
|
NSW |
Hunters Hill Medical Practice |
Hunters Hill, NSW |
Northern Sydney PHN |
|
NSW |
Leichardt General Practice |
Leichardt, NSW |
Central and Eastern Sydney PHN |
|
NSW |
The Women’s Health Centre Southern Highlands |
Mittagong, NSW |
South Western Sydney PHN |
|
NSW |
Milton Medical Centre |
Milton, NSW |
South Eastern NSW PHN |
|
NSW |
Coffs Harbour Women’s Health Centre |
Coffs Harbour, NSW |
North Coast PHN |
| NSW |
Rouse Hill Town Medical and Dental Centre |
Rouse Hill, NSW | Western Sydney, PHN |
|
Vic |
EACH Practice |
Ringwood East, VIC |
Eastern Melbourne PHN |
|
Vic |
Epping Plaza Medical and Dental Centre* |
Epping, VIC |
Eastern Melbourne PHN |
|
Vic |
Bendigo Community Health Services |
Bendigo, VIC |
Murray PHN |
|
Vic |
Kardinia Health |
Belmont, VIC |
Western Victoria PHN |
|
Qld |
MATSICHS (Institute for Urban Indigenous Health Ltd) |
Morayfield, QLD |
Brisbane North PHN |
|
Qld |
Benowa Super Clinic |
Benowa, QLD |
Gold Coast PHN |
|
Qld |
Family Planning Queensland |
Cairns, QLD |
Northern Queensland PHN |
|
Qld |
Neighbourhood Medical |
Bardon, QLD |
Brisbane North PHN |
|
WA |
Pioneer Health Albany |
Albany, WA |
Country WA PHN |
|
WA |
The Garden Family Medical Clinic |
Murdoch, WA |
Perth South PHN |
|
SA |
Kadina Medical Associates |
Kadina, SA |
Country SA PHN |
| SA | Thrive Family Practice | Glenelg South, SA |
Adelaide, PHN |
|
Tas |
Family Planning Tasmania |
Glenorchy, TAS |
Tasmania PHN |
|
ACT |
Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) |
Canberra, ACT |
ACT PHN |
|
NT |
Northside Health Darwin |
Coconut Grove, NT |
Northern Territory PHN |
|
Outcomes
An evaluation of the success of the clinics will start this year and be complete within the next 2 years. This evaluation will help integrate available support into the treatment and management of people with coexisting conditions such as endometriosis.
More measures to help women to find more appropriate care and better manage the impact of endometriosis and pelvic pain include:
- access to a new Medicare-funded magnetic resonance imaging scan to assist in the investigation of infertility for those with severe endometriosis and other conditions
- a review of the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme items used to support the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. The review will report on available treatments for endometriosis and recommendations for both improved utilisation of items and promotion of available treatments
- development of an Endometriosis Management Plan to support patients in primary care
- support to the National Endometriosis Clinical and Scientific Trials Network to continue growing research capacity and address research gaps
- funding for an Endometriosis Living Guideline to support new and ongoing research into the diagnosis and management of endometriosis
- promotion of the Australian Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Endometriosis
- funding for increasing awareness of endometriosis amongst priority populations. This includes implementing a
- Mentor Program to support those newly diagnosed with endometriosis
- Workplace Assistance Program to facilitate discussions in the workplace
- continued support for the EndoZone digital platform to provide consumer access to evidence-based information.
Learn more
Learn more about these measures in our progress report.
Contact
