About this resource
Meeting communiqué
The fifth meeting of the Ministerial Expert Panel on Women’s Health (expert panel) was held on
20 October 2026. The meeting was attended by expert panel members and was chaired by the
Hon Rebecca White MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health and Assistant Minister for Women.
At the meeting, the expert panel heard from organisations presenting initiatives and emerging approaches to support the prevention, early identification and treatment of cardiovascular disease in women. The expert panel considered opportunities to advance women’s health through the ideas presented – in particular how these real-world examples can translate into the expert panel’s advice to Government.
During the meeting, the expert panel:
- heard about prevention initiatives, including preventative health stations, cardiovascular risk identification through routine mammograms, mobile screening, early diagnostic testing and non-hormonal treatment for women in midlife, and national cardiovascular data initiatives
- considered early intervention initiatives, including telestroke support and portable brain scanning, emerging evidence and care models for women with non-obstructed coronary arteries, and services for young people affected by stroke
- discussed treatment initiatives, including the potential role of non-dispensing pharmacists embedded in general practice
- identified opportunities to advance women’s health through the initiatives presented.
The expert panel also reflected on the advice it provided at its previous meeting and considered how this would inform the final consensus statement.
The next meeting of the expert panel will be held on 18 November 2026.