A fast response from the government to the inquiry is crucial because women deserve better, says one of the committee members.
Last week, Greens senator Larissa Waters tabled the report from the Senate inquiry into issues related to menopause and perimenopause, including 25 consensus recommendations.
Ms Waters called on the federal government not to repeat the mistakes of the reproductive healthcare inquiry, which remains response-less 18 months after being tabled.
“[It] sadly has gathered dust on the shelf of the government benches now for almost 18 months… so let’s not repeat that, hey, because women deserve better.”
When questioned over the planned timeline for a government response on ABC’s Insiders program over the weekend, Health Minister Mark Butler said he had been shocked by the report’s findings.
“I’m astounded that medical students over a long degree would maybe spend one hour on perimenopause and menopause,” he said.
Mr Butler did not give a firm answer on when a response can be expected.
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Labor senator Marielle Smith, the inquiry’s deputy chairwoman, said a lack of awareness among health professionals about many menopausal symptoms made it “appallingly clear” why the health system was failing women.
One of the report’s top recommendations is that menopause and perimenopause education should be explicitly embedded in all medical education programs.
It included a call for the federal government to encourage the Australian Medical Council to embed menopause and perimenopause in the graduate outcome statements of the standards for assessment and accreditation of primary medical programs.
It also recommended that the AMC work with Medical Deans Australia to incorporate education into all medical university programs and to work to include menopause in the graduate outcomes for other health professionals, like nurses and physiotherapists.
Jean Hailes CEO Dr Sarah White said the advocacy group “strongly supports” bolstered training for medical professionals and a national public awareness campaign, which was also recommended by the committee.
“These initiatives are crucial for ensuring that women receive accurate information and appropriate care during this life stage,” she said.
The report also called on the federal government to address shortages of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) to ensure these products were more accessible and affordable, echoing calls from peak medical bodies like the AMA.
According to Chief Executive Women’s inquiry submission, one of around 300 submissions, women aged 50-54 could lose $15.2 billion a year in foregone earnings and superannuation due to poor accommodation for menopause symptoms in the workplace.
The committee recommended that the government consider introducing paid reproductive leave, which would also be available to men, and alterations to Section 65 of the Fair Work Act 2009 to give women the legal right to flexible working arrangements during menopause.
However, the report did not recommend menopause-specific leave.
“I approached this inquiry thinking we should have menopause leave, and I want to acknowledge I’ve changed my mind,” Ms Waters said.
Dr White said that while Jean Hailes welcomed calls for workplace flexibility, it was important not to inadvertently perpetuate stigma by characterising menopause as a solely problematic.
“Not all women will struggle with severe symptoms during the menopause transition. Some might struggle instead with endometriosis or migraines, instead,” she said.
“Our approach must be to create inclusive workplace policies that support all employees through various life stages and health challenges.”
Ms Smith said the report’s recommendations showed that employers needed to pull up their socks to support women going through menopause.
The report also called for the Department of Health and Aged Care Commission to build on current research around the effects of menopause and perimenopause, to differentiate them from other midlife stressors.
“That acknowledges the fact we don’t have enough data, that we are walking blind,” said Ms Waters.
“Information is knowledge and knowledge is what we need to make health better.”
Director of the women’s health research program at Monash University Professor Susan Davis said it was good to see bolstered research as the first recommendation.
“[It] puts the need for greater knowledge at the front and centre of improving health care provider training, health care delivery and policies, such as workplace policies, that impact Australians with respect to menopause,” she said.
“It is also noteworthy that the Committee recognises that work engagement for midlife women is not simply about ‘fixing menopause’ but that research is needed to elucidate the other, possibly more substantial, determinants of workforce participation and satisfaction for midlife women.”
Dr White said it was good to see a call for more diverse and comprehensive research.
“This information will be fundamental to informing evidence-based policies and support systems,” she said.
The federal response to the inquiry is due in December.
